Minnesota Grandmother Arrested After Both 2-Year-Old Twins Overdose on Methadone Hours Apart While in Her Care

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — A Minneapolis grandmother has been arrested after two 2-year-old twins overdosed on methadone within hours of each other while she was babysitting them, triggering two separate ambulance responses to the same home in one afternoon. Authorities say both toddlers ingested the medication from the grandmother’s purse, leaving one child unconscious and the other needing Narcan to survive.

First Twin Found Unresponsive and Rushed to ICU

The incident unfolded Sunday at a home on North 4th Avenue, where 56-year-old Andrea Flex was watching the twin girls. According to police, the first toddler was discovered unresponsive, struggling to breathe, and failing to wake up from a nap.

Officers arrived to find the girl unconscious, and she was rushed to a local hospital before being admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition.

Authorities said her condition was alarming from the moment they arrived.

“The child would not wake up and had severe breathing difficulty,”
investigators noted in initial reports.

Medical staff immediately suspected an overdose due to the child’s symptoms.

Second Twin Overdoses Two Hours Later

Roughly two hours later, police and emergency responders were called back to the same home for another medical emergency involving the second twin. She, too, was having difficulty breathing and displayed “pinpoint pupils,” a classic indicator of opioid overdose.

Emergency personnel administered Narcan, which revived the toddler and is believed to have saved her life.

“Narcan reversed the symptoms and stabilized the child,”
authorities confirmed.

The second child is expected to survive, while the first toddler’s condition was described as “grim.”

Investigation Finds Methadone in Grandmother’s Purse

As officers investigated the back-to-back emergencies, suspicion quickly centered on Flex. Inside her purse, police found methadone, a medication used to treat opioid addiction. Both children later tested positive for methadone exposure, confirming that they ingested the drug while under her supervision.

According to local reports, the medication was left within reach of the toddlers, giving investigators grounds to pursue criminal charges.

Officers said they found no evidence that the children had been intentionally given the drug — but the lack of supervision and accessible methadone created a dangerous and life-threatening situation.

“The twins had clear signs of opioid overdose, and methadone was found in an unsecured bag,”
officers said.

Flex Faces Charges as Police Continue to Monitor the Children

Flex has been charged with child neglect or endangerment, according to Hennepin County jail records. She was booked into jail over the weekend and released on Tuesday pending further court proceedings.

Child welfare authorities removed both children from the home, and officials also located the family’s additional children to ensure their safety.

Methadone misuse is particularly dangerous for young children, as even extremely small amounts can cause respiratory failure, unconsciousness, or death.

Authorities say the outcome could have been significantly worse without rapid medical intervention.

A Terrifying Afternoon That Could Have Turned Tragic

In cases involving opioid exposure, seconds matter — and for these twins, the two emergency responses likely prevented a far more devastating tragedy. First responders credited Narcan with saving one child’s life and swift hospitalization for giving the other a fighting chance.

Neighbors and community members expressed shock at the chaos that unfolded within such a short window.

“Two ambulances for two children in the same house — something was very clearly wrong,”
one resident told investigators.

While the second twin is expected to recover, the first remains in critical condition as doctors work to stabilize her.

As Minneapolis authorities continue their investigation, the case highlights the dangerous consequences of unsecured medications and the urgent need for vigilance when caring for young children. For more updates on breaking local stories and public safety news, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.