Witch House Feud – or Halloween Crime?

A bowl filled with colorful gummy bears surrounded by scattered candies — Photo: Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock

Police say at least a dozen trick-or-treaters picked up suspected psychedelic gummies from a San Diego porch, yet key lab and charging records remain undisclosed, fueling fresh doubt about how the system protects kids and handles due process.

Story Snapshot

Parents reported children got suspected psilocybin gummies from an Ocean Beach porch.
Police seized “identical” gummies and other contraband after a search warrant.
The main resident denied leaving the gummies; family cited a “witch house” feud.
No lab confirmation or child poisonings were publicly documented as of reporting.

What Parents Reported On Halloween Night

Parents told San Diego police that children trick-or-treating in Ocean Beach picked up bagged gummies from a porch on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Reports described at least 15 kids, though counts varied across outlets, which makes the exact number unclear. Parents turned packages over to police, prompting a narcotics investigation. The accounts said very young children were among those who picked up the items, raising strong fears about child safety during a popular family event.

Police obtained a warrant and searched the home days later. Officers said they found a bag of suspected psilocybin gummies “identical” to those parents recovered from children, along with cannabis, methamphetamine, firearms, and ammunition, and in some reports, drug-sale materials. Police booked residents on firearm and ammunition counts while keeping the narcotics and child endangerment angles under review. Media coverage noted the arrests but also that distribution charges had not been filed at that time.

Arrests, Courtroom Denials, And The ‘Witch House’ Claim

Shawn Michael Foster appeared in court after the search and pleaded not guilty to the filed counts; he denied placing the gummies outside the home. His daughter said many people lived at the address and argued that neighbors disliked the home’s look, calling it a “witch house,” which she believes made the family a target. A man identified as Shawn Barger also disputed the parents’ account. These defenses do not include forensic proof in the public record, but they add a clear counter-narrative.

The gap between alarming headlines and public evidence is wide. Reports did not cite a lab result proving psilocybin in the seized gummies, nor a toxicology report for any child. Outlets also did not publish the warrant affidavit, which would show who saw what, and why police believed probable cause existed. Without those records, core questions remain open: who placed the items, whether the gummies contained psilocybin, and whether any child was harmed. This is a live investigation, not a closed case.

Why This Case Taps Deep Public Worry

Parents’ fear is not baseless. Poison center data show young children are exposed to drug-laced edibles far more often now, especially in homes, and packaged sweets can look like normal candy. At the same time, Halloween scares can get ahead of facts. Past panics often spread before lab tests or affidavits confirm details. That tension is present here: a serious claim involving kids, paired with missing public lab results and shifting child counts, which invites confusion and anger across the political spectrum.

Trust breaks when authorities release headlines but hold back key records. Many on the right see this as system failure and media hype. Many on the left see weak consumer safeguards and poor oversight of risky products. Both sides see a government that struggles to inform the public without overselling or hiding the ball. Releasing the warrant affidavit, inventory, and lab reports would help settle facts and show whether charges for distribution or child endangerment are justified.

What To Watch Next

Watch for lab confirmation of the gummies’ contents and potency. Look for surveillance video or witness accounts that show who placed the items on the porch. Check whether prosecutors file distribution or child endangerment charges, or keep the case focused on firearms and ammunition. Finally, look for evidence about whether any child ingested a gummy or needed medical care. Clear answers on these points will determine if this was a deliberate act or a different kind of failure.