In an incident that occurred on May 31 in Sarasota, Florida, the parents of an eight-month-old infant are now facing charges after it was discovered that their child had tested positive for lethal amounts of fentanyl.
Late last week, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested the parents following an investigation into the baby’s untimely death.
Responding to a distress call near Bee Ridge Road at around 5:15 pm, sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene to find an eight-month-old baby in an unresponsive state.
The child’s father, identified as Nicholas Alexander, along with a friend, had rushed the infant to Doctors Hospital.
According to reports, the child’s mother, Carissa Alexander, had been responsible for caring for the baby when they discovered the infant face-down on the couch cushions inside their home. Shockingly, investigators uncovered a significant lapse in checking on the child’s well-being between 10:30 am and 4:45 pm that day, until Nicholas returned home from work.
Both parents were later apprehended by law enforcement officers. During the questioning process, blood and urine samples were taken from the couple, and it is alleged that they were impaired.
The autopsy report indicated that the infant had been deceased for several hours, with a harrowing revelation that the baby had tested positive for fatal levels of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid. Owing to this, both the parents were arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter. They are currently being held without bond at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility, awaiting further legal proceedings.