This story was updated from its original version.Lake Oswego resident Michael Meyden turned himself in at Clackamas County Jail Wednesday after being accused of drugging three 12-year-old girls during a sleepover at his home.
Meyden, 57, faces three counts each of causing another to ingest a controlled substance, application of a schedule-IV controlled substance and delivery of a controlled substance to a minor.
The three girls, according to a press release from the Lake Oswego Police Department, reported that they had been exposed to an unknown prescription drug and were subsequently treated at Randall Children’s Hospital after the incident Aug. 26, 2023.
Lake Oswego detectives determined that Meyden had been responsible for the drugs detected in the girls’ bloodstreams. According to the indictment, the girls ingested Temazepam, which is used to treat insomnia and is a schedule IV controlled substance.
An affidavit submitted by Lake Oswego Police Department detective Nicole Palmeri shed further light on the case.
In interviews, the girls told Palmeri that Meyden seemed very involved with their activities during the sleepover, constantly checking in on them and interjecting in conversations. After directing the girls’ activities for the night, including playing in the sprinklers and going in the hot tub, Meyden insisted they drink mango smoothies sometime from 9-11 p.m.
“The smoothies were described dull orange in color with tiny white chunks throughout and sprinkled on top. The smoothie’s consistency was described as having a thinner liquid with bubbles in it. Mr. Meyden specifically gave each of the girls specific colored reusable straws to distinguish their own drink. Mr. Meyden was adamant that the girls drink out of their own cups,” the affidavit reads.
Once they went to bed, one of the girls — who pretended like she drank the smoothie but didn’t — reported Meyden moving the hand of one of her friends and also reported him conducting tests to see if they were awake like putting his finger under her nose and waving his hand in front of her face. She was worried that one of her friends wouldn’t wake up. The girl then texted her mom saying that she didn’t feel safe and to come get her.
“(The girl) stated Mr. Meyden returned from the sliding glass door and stood near the headboard for what she thought was 15 minutes. (The girl) stated she could feel him watching her by his presence as she kept her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep. (The girl) said when he finally went upstairs she continued trying to get ahold of anyone she could to pick her up,” the affidavit reads.
A family friend picked the girl up and they then alerted the other parents. Two of the parents visited Meyden’s residence and insisted they take the other girls home despite protestation from Meyden.
When Palmeri interviewed another girl who had drunk the smoothies 12 hours prior, the girl walked slowly, her eyelids were heavy and she spoke slowly. The girl reported that “she went into a ’thick, deep sleep’ that she had never experienced before.”
Clackamas County Circuit Court issued an indictment in the case and the trial is scheduled for April 25. The court issued a bail amount of $50,000 and if Meyden posts bail, he was ordered not to have unsupervised contact with minors or the victims or enter areas where minors are commonly present.
Meyden and his wife initiated divorce proceedings in October 2023, according to court records, and legally separated in December.
The Oregonian first reported news of the alleged drugging and indictment.
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