A Slidell-area man has been arrested for murder after toxicology test show a 2-year-old girl who died while in his care had both fentanyl and cocaine in her system.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched January 7 to a residence on Admiral Nelson Drive in the Kingspoint area near Slidell in reference to an unresponsive 2 year old. The child and her 1-year-old brother were both transported by emergency medical personnel to a local hospital. The 1-year-old was treated and released, but the 2-year-old was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the hospital.
The children were in the care of a relative, Christopher Baker (DOB 2/19/1992), at the time of the incident, and paraphernalia containing drug residue was found in the home.
An autopsy was conducted and toxicology results were received by STPSO Major Crimes detectives on Friday (January 26), indicating fentanyl and cocaine exposure contributed to the child’s death.
Baker has been booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on one count each of Second-Degree Murder, Possession of Schedule 1 CDS (fentanyl) and Possession of Schedule 1 CDS (cocaine).
“It is incredibly sad that this innocent child died as a result of an adult’s poor decisions,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug and even a small amount is deadly to a grown adult. My prayers go out to this family and to all families who are affected by this horrible drug.”