That's Why They Call It Dope

Dad's attempt to share feelings with children and bond over opiates goes unappreciated by society. Looks like there really is such a thing as being criminally stupid:

A St. Louis area man who injected his young sons with heroin and cocaine was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Court records say Stephen Pickle, 39, of Hazelwood said he gave the drugs to his sons -- aged 12 and 16 at the time -- so they'd understand how he felt when he took them.

Meanwhile, some Pennsylvania moms are being punished just for wanting a girls' night out:

The mothers of five children killed in a house fire were ordered Friday to stand trial on involuntary manslaughter and other charges for leaving the youngsters alone while they went to a bar.

A judge found there was sufficient evidence against Shakita Mangham and Furaha Love, both 25, for them to be tried on five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of making false reports to police.

They also are charged with recklessly endangering firefighters who responded to the blaze and endangering the welfare of children.

Prosecutors said Mangham initially told police the children were left with a baby sitter the night of the June 12 fire. She later acknowledged she had given investigators false information to avoid getting into trouble and because she wanted to attend funeral services and remain available for her surviving son, according to a criminal complaint.

Love also said she knew there was no baby sitter, and that the children had been left in the care of two 8-year-olds, police said.

I feel for the two surviving boys. You know this is going to stay with them forever. I have an aunt who drowned in a pond as a toddler. The argument over which sibling left the gate open was still going strong six decades after her death.