New mom goes on 'bath salts' fueled rampage in maternity ward

[Dr Mabuse]

Woman accused of smoking Blizzard on maternity ward
July 5, 2012
By Greg Bock (gbock@altoonamirror.com) , The Altoona Mirror

A mother who police said smoked Blizzard on the Altoona Regional maternity ward faces charges after she allegedly stripped naked and assaulted nurses and hospital police.

Carla J. Murphy, 31, of 1902 Third Ave. was recovering in the hospital on June 17, after the delivery of her baby two days previously.

Hospital police were called by the nursing staff because Murphy was shouting, cursing and being aggressive with several nurses, according to court records.

Police noted the staff believed Murphy was on drugs that were not given to her at the hospital.

Because she was "not of sound mind or able to make her own decisions," doctors decided to keep her at the hospital to be evaluated by mental health professionals, her charges show.

When escorted from the hall to her room, Murphy allegedly walked into the bathroom, stripped naked, rolled round on the shower floor while appearing confused and unable to answer basic questions about her whereabouts, police said.

As nurses attempted to get Murphy out of the bathroom and dressed, she berated them and officers, but she did tell police that they could "search any of my belongings," court documents state.

Inside Murphy's purse was a dismantled black pen with residue of a substance inside as well as other signs of drug use including a lighter and "silver 'Disco' package wrapped in medical tape containing a white substance," charges note.

When asked what the powder was, Murphy told police, "Disco."

Murphy was given the anti-psychotic drug Haldol by a nurse at the direction of a doctor and was asked to sit down on her bed, police said.

Instead, Murphy continued to yell at the staff and flail her arms aggressively before darting toward the door and pushing past nurses and officers.

Officers said they were able to keep Murphy in her room, but she started swinging her fists and the struggle spilled into the hallway.

Police did get Murphy back to her bed, but she immediately stood up and punched a nurse and then struck and kicked and tried to bite an officer when he tried to restrain her, court records show.

Murphy was handcuffed and arrested. When nurses attempted to help Murphy get dressed, she kicked one of them in the chest, police said. Murphy was held down until the Haldol took effect, and she fell asleep.

Murphy, who had an outstanding Blair County Sheriff's Department warrant, was then taken to Blair County Prison on a probation violation.

Later on June 17, Altoona police said they paid a visit to Murphy's home to assist a Blair County Children, Youth & Families caseworker with an inspection of the residence.

Michael W. Stewart, Murphy's live-in boyfriend, allowed the caseworker to inspect where the newborn would be sleeping and then gave police permission to search the couple's bedroom.

Stewart told officers he was aware Murphy once had a problem with Blizzard, a street name for the illegal stimulant MDPV, but thought she was done with it, police said.

In the bedroom, police allegedly found an array of drug paraphernalia, including needles, aluminum foil, Blizzard containers and a broken glass bottle with brown residue on it.

Murphy and Stewart are both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by Altoona police, and Murphy faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, public drunkeness and harassment as well as several drug counts including felony possession of a designer drug.

Murphy was released Tuesday from Blair County Prison, and arraignment on those charges is pending. Stewart and Murphy are due to appear Aug. 8 before Magisterial District Judge Todd F. Kelly for their preliminary hearing on the drug paraphernalia charge.

Ooh baby, baby it's a wild world...

[Groucho]

I'm relieved the story wasn't about this:

Spoiler:

[Michael Corvin]

So what happened to the newborn?

[KillerCannibal]

They should seal it back up in her vagina and throw her in a deep fryer.

[PopcornTreeCt]

What's with bath salts and being naked? All these attacks have that in common.

[Giantrobo]

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

What's with bath salts and being naked? All these attacks have that in common.

It makes the users feel like they're burning up from the inside. So they strip to get cool.

I forget if the "temp change" is a real physical thing or just imagined.

[Jaymole]

Guilty!

[Kmical]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

Guilty!

I've seen her before ... but where?

Oh yeah - stalking Arnold and his team through the Mexican jungle!

[Giantrobo]

[BuddhaWake]

is her hair green? looking like the joker.

[cdollaz]

Fugly.

[Fok]

great and she's had a kid, wonder how the kid is going to turn out.

[Dr Mabuse]

Yeah... imagine the future life filled with many wonderful experiences and fulfilled dreams in store for that child.

[Eddie W]

Originally Posted by Giantrobo

It makes the users feel like they're burning up from the inside. So they strip to get cool.

So what's the selling point of this drug? It's hard to imagine that anyone wants to sear their insides, go pyschotic, and eat peoples faces off for recreation.

[Dr Mabuse]

It's 'legal' and easy to get is the main thing with most of the new designer stuff like 'spice' and 'bath salts' and the like.

It's yet another benefit of the 'drug war'... face eating, psychotic naked people who get uncomfortably hot.

[Abob Teff]

Originally Posted by Kmical

I've seen her before ... but where?

Oh yeah - stalking Arnold and his team through the Mexican jungle!

No ... here.

[Vibiana]

Um, lady, you're supposed to be home from the hospital and have two or three other kids before you get to use the "Calgon, take me away" gambit.

[Matt_]

Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt

What's with bath salts and being naked? All these attacks have that in common.

"The Straight Dope on What Bath Salts Do to Your Brain and Why They're Dangerous"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddis...yre-dangerous/

excerpt:

"When your brain is hit with that much psychoactive stimulant, the nervous system overloads and all of the brain’s hardwired threat alarms go off. The predictable result is paranoia, panic attacks, mood swings and reckless behavior. Plus, another effect called hyperthermia kicks in, which means that your body is overheating because it can’t dissipate heat quickly enough to keep you cooled down."

[Nick Danger]

Gaarrr! I ain't going to let you . . . don't mess with me lady! Hu hu hu hu hu. Don't touch . . . The Constitution says that I have my rights! Gaaaaahh! I ain't gonna let some CIA bitch put me back in there.

Why yes, officer, you have permission to search my possessions.

Washoe! Let go, leggo, leggo, leggo! Raaah! I have my rights! I told you to leggo! You bitch! I munna the CIA bitches!

[TallGuyMe]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

Guilty!

Why So Serious?

[cpgator]

Originally Posted by Dr Mabuse

It's 'legal' and easy to get is the main thing with most of the new designer stuff like 'spice' and 'bath salts' and the like.

It's yet another benefit of the 'drug war'... face eating, psychotic naked people who get uncomfortably hot.

So even with it being legal (which is what you want all drugs to be), it is still the fault of the scary drug war. And if it was illegal, whatever happens would still be the fault of the scary drug war, correct?

[whoopdido]

Originally Posted by Matt_

"The Straight Dope on What Bath Salts Do to Your Brain and Why They're Dangerous"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddis...yre-dangerous/

excerpt:

"When your brain is hit with that much psychoactive stimulant, the nervous system overloads and all of the brain’s hardwired threat alarms go off. The predictable result is paranoia, panic attacks, mood swings and reckless behavior. Plus, another effect called hyperthermia kicks in, which means that your body is overheating because it can’t dissipate heat quickly enough to keep you cooled down."

Unless I missed it, that article didn't say what the "benefits" of the drug are. Don't people take drugs because it feels good? I've heard people describe the feeling of being on heroin or meth as pure heaven...the best feeling in the world. I can certainly understand why people would want to feel that way. It sounds like being on bath salts would be torture. Why would anybody do that?

[Groucho]

Seems like the solution here is to chain yourself up like you're a werewolf before taking the bath salts.

[shadowhawk2020]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

Guilty!

Wow Courtney Love has really gotten herself together. Good for her.

[inri222]

Looks like one of the Olsen twins.