Georgia Mother Claims Toddler Who Died with Fentanyl in His System ‘Silently Choked on a Piece of Bread': Cops
March 16 2024, Published 12:06 p.m. ET
A mother in Georgia is under investigation after police say her toddler son died with fentanyl in his bloodstream.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, Jocelyn Romero claimed her son “silently choked on a piece of bread” while sleeping next to her at their apartment in Smyrna.
Romero told authorities that she woke up and he seemed fine until she briefly left the room.
Toxicology reports appear to contradict what Romero told police, according to WSB-TV.
Court documents show that a month before the victim’s death, Homeland Security agents raided Romero’s residence, where they allegedly confiscated fentanyl and almost 30 grams of cocaine.
Officials claimed they later discovered the victim had unrestricted access to the drugs, which led to charges against Romero for trafficking drugs and reckless conduct.
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“It’s really kind of hard to hear, really," A neighbor told WSB-TV. "Having a [child] that just turned 3. She wasn’t caring for the child. If you got raided for drugs you weren’t caring for that child in no way, shape, or form.”
When asked why Romero still had custody of the boy after the drug charges, the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services said, “DHS/DFCS is bound by both state and federal law to protect the privacy of the people we serve. As such, we are unable to comment on the specifics of any reported abuse or neglect cases."
The agency added, "We take seriously every report that might be made to the agency and work with law enforcement when appropriate to ensure the safety of Georgia’s children.”
The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be filed.
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