Mother of a 3-year-old girl, who had fentanyl and meth in her system and Narcan likely administered while she was still alive, waited more than an hour before seeking help after noticing her daughter’s face was blue; charged!

According to reports, a 26-year-old mother, later identified as Carolyn, has been arrested and charged with murder/homicide by child abuse, along with two counts of unlawful child neglect, after her 3-year-old daughter, later identified as Riley, died from acute mixed drug intoxication involving fentanyl and methamphetamine. The incident, which underscores the devastating impact of drug exposure on children, has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of a young life.

The tragic incident took place on September 10, and sheriff’s office deputies were sent to Carolyn’s home in response to the report. Deputies immediately began CPR on the little girl upon arrival. Paramedics then transported her to a hospital, where she was unfortunately pronounced dead.

According to reports, Carolyn informed deputies that Riley had been napping for approximately two hours. When one of Riley’s siblings was unable to wake her, Carolyn discovered the child unresponsive, with vomit on the bed and a blue discoloration on her face. Carolyn then called her mother, who ultimately called 911, but investigators believe there was a delay of over an hour before emergency services were alerted.

Officers found uncapped syringes, foil, and drugs present when searching the home. Testing confirmed the presence of fentanyl and meth on household items. The autopsy report noted that Riley’s body temperature was just 86 degrees upon discovery, and the cause of death was determined to be drug intoxication. The autopsy also revealed that Narcan, a drug that can reverse a drug overdose, was in Riley’s blood and likely administered while she was still alive. If convicted, Carolyn faces a sentence ranging from 20 years to life in prison. Currently, she is being held at the county jail without bond.