Uncle Charged After Tests Show Niece, 2, Had 'Date Rape' Drug in Her System

A Gwinnett County man is accused of child cruelty to his 2-year-old niece after police say illegal drugs were found in her system.

WSB Radio reported a “date-rape drug” was found in her system.

Terrence Darling, 26, of Lilburn was arrested Thursday, Aug. 21 by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and charged with cruelty to children and reckless conduct. He was released Friday after posting bond of $14,150, according to jail records.

The girl was reportedly taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital earlier this month with severe burns to her legs and bruises elsewhere.

Initially, Darling was arrested and charged with reckless conduct on Aug. 2 in connection with that incident. He told police he called an ambulance when he saw the girl was lethargic and going in and out of consciousness.

He said the girl was burned when he sat her on a stovetop while he went to get her water, the Gwinnett Daily Post reported. He said the girl must have somehow turned on the stove. He returned to find her severely burned.

She is expected to be OK.

Darling was released on a $2,950 bond for the charge.

Police ordered a toxicology report on the girl, which came back last week showing the presence of the drug HGB, which is similar to Ecstasy, the Post reported.

Darling told police he doesn’t know how the drug got in the girl’s system.

(Photo: Terrence Darling. Gwinnett County jail mugshot)