A 24-year-old woman, Sara Lashae Harris, was arrested on January 5, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, and charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse.
The arrest follows the discovery of her unresponsive newborn daughter in her apartment, and the infant’s subsequent death.
On July 30, 2023, around 9:40 am, the Phoenix Police Department and emergency medical personnel responded to a call at an apartment complex near 19th Avenue and Mountain View Road.
Upon arrival, they found a six-week-old baby girl lying on a mattress in the living room, not breathing.
Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, the infant was pronounced dead shortly after. Additionally, a 17-month-old toddler was found in the home, unharmed.
The investigation into the incident uncovered deeply troubling details. According to court documents, Harris had left her infant and toddler alone for about 37 hours. During this time, she reportedly went to a nightclub in Tempe and engaged in drug use and partying.
She told the authorities that she had given her infant ibuprofen the previous night as the baby was fussy. She claimed she discovered the baby unresponsive with a blanket over her face after returning from a short visit to a corner market.
She went on to tell authorities that upon her reentry, she discovered her child was not breathing and contacted her own parents. Harris’s mother arrived at her apartment and placed the call to emergency services.
Surveillance footage and further investigation contradicted Harris’s initial account, showing she had not been at her apartment during the entire weekend.
The apartment search revealed a bottle of children’s NyQuil and a syringe with remnants of red liquid, which appeared to match the NyQuil.
Investigators also found a baby bottle with milk that had a pinkish hue and red liquid in the nipple, indicating the presence of the medication.
The medical examiner identified the cause of death as tracheal mucus plugging, with contributing factors including chlorpheniramine intoxication (a common ingredient in certain over-the-counter cold and allergy medications like some NyQuil formulations) and an unsafe sleeping environment.
During a post-Miranda interview, Harris admitted to giving her infant melatonin and NyQuil through a bottle before leaving. She also confessed to consuming street drugs and alcohol while away from the home. Toxicology tests later confirmed the presence of NyQuil in the baby’s system.
Harris was arrested on Friday, January 5, 2024, and is currently held in Maricopa County Jail with a bond set at $100,000. She is scheduled for a court appearance this Thursday.