A South Carolina mother is behind bars after an investigation into her baby daughter’s May death revealed she died from a fentanyl overdose.
The 10-month-old girl’s father called 911 after he found her lying on her stomach, unresponsive near her sleeping mother.
While an autopsy showed no signs of injuries on the baby, toxicology exams revealed she had lethal levels of fentanyl in her system.
Several items recovered from the home, including baby bottles, formula, and a pacifier, tested positive for fentanyl.
39-year-old Sara Shakeri-Taylor was arrested at the scene and charged with homicide by child abuse and other offenses.
“As a parent, it shakes me to my core to see people be so careless and negligent with their children,” said Charleston County Sheriff Kristen Graziano.
“This mother made a terrible decision, and she is where she belongs.”
The baby’s father, 41-year-old Sandy Sharron Gathers, is also facing unrelated charges after evidence of dogfighting activity at the home was found during the investigation.
