Abandoned child, Oct. 6

Two Curry Co. women have been referred to the District Attorney’s Office after an off-duty police officer found an infant 18-month old girl Thursday morning, Oct. 2, walking on the side of the road in Brookings. Thirty-eight year old Twyla Wheeler is the mother who left the child with a relative who reportedly didn’t know the two had gone to a casino in Smith River, CA. The child, wearing only a diaper and t-shirt, was showing signs of hypothermia when she was found alongside the South Bank Chetco River Road near Salmonberry Road. She was air-lifted to the hospital in Gold Beach. The women were transported to the county jail at Gold Beach. Wheeler was charged with Criminal Mistreatment, Child Neglect and Possession of Methamphetamine. Geyer was charged with Possession of Meth and Probation Violation. The child is in protective custody.