News 12 First at Five; November 12, 2008

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. --- A 13-year-old Paul Knox Middle School student has told North Augusta investigators that another 13-year-old student gave her Xanax pills at school.

Investigators say the student showed up at school with her stepdad's medication in a jewelry box last Thursday (November 6), and now she's in trouble with the law.

Investigators say the 13-year-old student admitted she gave the other student 3 Xanax pills. Those pills are anti-panic pills. By the end of the day, the student who took the pills ended up in the hospital.

The 13-year-old who took the pills says the other student gave her the pills and she took 16 of them throughout that one day. She also says she mixed the pills with wine.

"I'm terrified," says Leah McKinney, mom and PTA president at Paul Knox. "Yeah, it is a very big worry."

Her son is in 8th grade at the school, but she says she didn't know of the problem until today. "It's scary, because you hope that as a parent you've done your lessons well," she says.

Both of the 13-year-olds are likely going to be facing charges from North Augusta Public Safety. "I think if you are going to have medicine, you have to protect them, just because their curiosity is out there," says Leah.

News 12 learned those students may have been expelled from the school already. The school will not confirm that, but they do have a zero-tolerance drug policy. They tell News 12 if students are caught with drugs on school property, it results in an immediate expulsion. That expulsion would have to go to the board for a final decision, we're told.

Now, Leah and others like her will be having a talk with their kids. "On the way home, I'm going to ask him if he knows anything about it and knows that he can always come to us," says Leah.

The PTA president is now looking to attack the problem. "What I do with my son this afternoon might work with my son, but it might not be the best thing for everybody," says Leah. So, she's researching. "What would be the best for us to do as a unit, as a school."

Right now, it's a school that's keeping quiet, but there's Leah -- and other parents -- who are starting to take action. "The voice inside, if it says no, listen to it and don't do it," says Leah.

News 12 learned from investigators that they will be meeting tomorrow morning with the 13-year-old who handed out the pills for free at the school. Also in attendance at that meeting will be her legal council. Investigators say they have not talked to the 13-year-old who took the pills yet. We do know charges are not expected to be placed against the stepfather or mother of the girl who handed out the pills.

Investigators are having a tough time putting this investigation together because they are seeing a contradiction in several stories. We also are told there may be up to 6 people who got pills from the girl, but right now, no one knows how many pills were given out to the students, or taken from the stepdad.

News 12 is continuing to follow this story and will update you as soon as news breaks.