An Oregon man finds himself in the center of a disturbing controversy after being accused of spiking smoothies with sedatives and serving them to his daughter’s pre-teen friends.

The shocking incident, which unfolded on the night of August 25, 2023, led to multiple felony charges against Michael Meyden, a 57-year-old resident of Lake Oswego, Oregon. 

The detailed court documents indicate that additional charges could be filed in the future.

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Spiking smoothies 

Court documents and a probable cause affidavit shed light on the troubling events that transpired that fateful night.

 Meyden stands accused of drugging three 12-year-old girls who were staying over at his home. 

The girls, hospitalized shortly after the incident, tested positive for benzodiazepine, a potent sedative commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders. 

Benzodiazepines such as Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin are known for inducing sedation, sleepiness, and relaxation.

According to the affidavit, Meyden faces a litany of charges, including three felony counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, three felony counts of applying a schedule IV-controlled substance to the body of a minor, and three misdemeanor counts of delivering to a minor a schedule IV-controlled substance.

Probable Cause Affidavit

The affidavit, authored by a Lake Oswego police Detective Nicole Palmeri, outlines the sequence of events leading up to the alleged drugging. Meyden’s active involvement in the girls’ activities during the sleepover, which included trips to get their nails done and fetching pizza for dinner, stands in stark contrast to the sinister act he’s accused of committing.

Meyden prepared smoothies for the girls before bedtime. Each girl, including the suspect's daughter, received two smoothies in milkshake-style glasses. Each drink was accompanied by specifically colored reusable straws to distinguish them. He insisted each girl drink from her designated cup.

While one girl consumed two cups, another had one cup, and a third reported drinking very little since she didn’t like the taste.

It is uncertain how much the suspect's daughter drank, although witnesses noted her intake appeared significant. 

Sleepover ends Abruptly

The affidavit indicates that Meyden appeared to monitor the girls even after they were in bed for the night. The girl who didn’t drink much recounted the man repeatedly attempted to physically separate her from her friends.

She was so alarmed by his behavior with her unconscious friends that she texted and called friends and family asking for help. 

According to the affidavit one of her texts said, “Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency. I don’t feel safe. I might not respond but please come get me.” 

“Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!!”

The girl who was calling for help was picked up by a family friend. And the two other parents went to pick up their children. According to the affidavit Meyden “was reluctant to let them leave.”

The girl who drank two smoothies reported to police that after drinking the spiked smoothies “began to feel woozy, hot and clumsy”, shortly after finishing the second smoothie. And she “blacked out” into a “thick, deep sleep” like she has never experienced before, the affidavit detailed.

 Spiking Smoothies Case

Court records indicate the charges include "three felony counts times two of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance and applying a schedule IV-controlled substance to the body of a minor.

He is also charged with three misdemeanor counts of delivering a schedule IV-controlled substance to a minor.”

Meyden’s attorney, Mark Cogan, confirmed his client’s surrender to authorities and subsequent arraignment. His client has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges levied against him. The accused has posted bail set at $50,000.

Reactions to the incident have been a mix of shock and disbelief, with community members expressing outrage over the suspect spiking smoothies and the alleged betrayal of trust.