Mother of Toddler Admits to Recently Using Ice

Written by Sabrina Hall - shall@kgmb9.com

January 20, 2008 08:06 PM

She has told reporters she hasn't used drugs in more than two years, but Sunday the mother of the little boy thrown off the H-1 overpass admits to using crystal methamphetamine up until the day of her son's death.

Nancy Chanco said she has been trying to clean up her act, but she told KGMB9 that if she had not been using drugs her little boy would be alive today.

"Did he beat him up and wrap him up before he threw him over the bridge?," asked Chanco.

Chanco is still angry at Mathew Higa and reeling from the sudden loss of her child. Cyrus Belt was thrown of the H-1 Freeway overpass and Higa is charged with his murder. But now Chanco is taking partial responsibility for the toddler's death.

"You can't be a good parent when you are on ice," said Chanco. "That's why I turned myself in at Queens."

The Department of Human Services released records showing Cyrus had been a victim of neglect in the past, and sources tell KGMB9, just 6 days before Cryus was killed, Chanco tested positive at Queen's Medical Center for crystal methamphetamine.

Chanco admits she has been using meth for several months, ever since she lost her job as a dental assistant.

"I just felt dispair. There is no excuses, but I started using again," Chanco said. "It was taking its toll on me and I kept procrastinating going to rehab. I kept saying 'do it Nancy, do it Nancy'. The only thing that ever made me move was my love for him. That's what made me quit when I was pregnant. That's what made me stay clean for all that time."

But she said she has not been successful at staying clean, and neither has her father who was watching Cyrus the day he was killed.

That same day, police said they found the toddler wandering the streets alone and returned him back home. Hours later, he ended up in the hands of Higa, the child's neighbor.

The death of the 23-month-old boy has moved many in our state, bringing some to tears. And now many are angry at Hawaii's continued problem with the drug ice.

"This drug thing has gotta stop!," said Gloria Peterson, a Kalihi resident. "It is ruining so many lives and its ruining my loved ones lives. It's just getting out of hand. It's too much."

"Parents please watch your children," said Tammy Taoy, a Date Street resident. "Please be more responsible. If you can't care for you children, give them to someone who can."

And while police said Higa is the one who ultimately ended Cryus's life, many at the boy's memorial said, at the root, ice is to blame. And the boy's mother agrees.

"How many days have you been sober now?," asked KGMB9's Sabrina Hall.

"Since his death," Chanco said.

Friends of the murder suspect said Higa was also an ice user.

Cyrus' grandfather won't say if he uses the drug. Meanwhile Chanco tells KGMB9 she plans to move into a clean and sober house in the coming days.