Boy found living in shed; mother faces drug charges

Police charged Cathy Vandygriff Bernala with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of drug paraphernalia, drug possession and giving a drug to a minor.

The 41-year-old mother also could face charges of child abuse after police found her son living in an 8- by 10-foot storage shed in the back yard.

The boy apparently wanted his own room and moved into the windowless shed. He had electricity and a TV plus a day bed.

“It was not a place for a child to be,” said Police Chief Reggie Pope. “While the mother and two girls were in the house, the boy could come and go as he pleased out back. The place had no windows so if a fire broke out, he’d have no way to escape.”

Bernala was booked Wednesday at the Maury County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000.

———

Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com