Drugs Found in Parents Who Died With 4 Kids

The bodies of a mother and father who drowned with four of their children during a family outing here tested positive for methamphetamines, toxicology test results showed Monday.

“There wasn’t enough methamphetamine for an overdose, but it was enough to affect their judgment,” said Margaret Soliz of the Kern County coroner’s office. “There was a fair amount in their system.”

Officially, Martin and Charlotte Skaggs drowned, but methamphetamine intoxication was a contributing factor, Soliz said. The two, both 45, had previous drug convictions, Kern County sheriff’s investigators said.

The parents and their children--Melanie, 10; April, 8; Lindsey, 7; and Travis, 5--died July 2 during a family outing at Lake Isabella. They were wading on a shallow sand bar in an area where the bottom falls away sharply, authorities said. Investigators called their deaths a tragic accident.