St. Joseph Mother Accused of Child Endangerment After Two Young Children Test Positive for Meth

On August 4th 2026, Julia Watts of St. Joseph MO arrested for a warrant issued on 6-11-26 for endangering the welfare of a child.

Julia Watts - St. Joseph MO\

According to a probable cause statement filed by the St. Joseph Police Department, Children's Division responded to the home of Julia Watts on Nov. 12, 2025, to investigate allegations of child neglect involving drug use around children.

While at the home, a Children's Division worker reportedly noticed the 15-month-old infant was not breathing normally and called for emergency medical assistance. The infant was taken to Mosaic Life Care and later transferred to Children's Mercy, where authorities say the child tested positive for methamphetamine.

A second child, 2 years old, was also taken to Mosaic because of concerns about possible drug exposure. That child also allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

According to the court document, Watts told Children's Division she had been giving the 2-year-old DayQuil for about a month because the child was sick. Watts also allegedly admitted she had used methamphetamine that same day and tested positive during a urine drug screen.

Ten days later, Watts was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities allegedly found her with a glass pipe containing methamphetamine residue.

It is unclear if she was charged while in custody or if she was released after her initial arrest. These details are still unknown.

Police allege Watts committed first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The probable cause statement also notes that Watts was homeless at the time the warrant was requested.

The allegations are serious, and the safety of the children has to come first. Watts is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Addiction Remains a Challenge in St. Joseph

The circumstances surrounding this case also point to a broader issue facing St. Joseph. Addiction continues to affect individuals and families throughout the community, and for those who have reached the point of homelessness or severe drug dependency, getting consistent and effective treatment can be difficult.

St. Joseph does have organizations offering substance abuse and behavioral health services, but there remains a need for accessible, long-term treatment that reaches people before their addiction spirals into situations involving their children, law enforcement or the courts.

This case is an extreme example of what can happen when addiction and instability collide. Two very young children allegedly ended up exposed to methamphetamine, while their mother was reportedly struggling with drug use and homelessness.

Situations like this are a reminder that St. Joseph's addiction problem doesn't affect only the person using drugs. Eventually, the consequences can reach children, families and the entire community.