Four people in Toronto – two men and two women – have been charged after an 18-month-old boy became unconscious and died last December. Officials believe the toddler ingested drugs in a variety of ways before passing away. “Investigators believe the child ingested drugs through various means,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement. “Investigators believe the child ingested drugs through various means.”
At the time of the toddler’s death, police said that they were unsure whether the death was caused by a deliberate overdose, the result of an accidental overdose, or the child ingesting a common drug. However, police said they now believe the child ingested drugs from “volatile substances,” according to The Toronto Star.
Toronto authorities now believe a toddler, who died after ingesting a variety of drugs, likely ingested some of these drugs through various means. Authorities say the death appears to be the result of a deliberate overdose.
The two adults – the child’s father and his mother – are charged with being involved in “the intended and purposeful trafficking of narcotics” as well as being involved in the care and endangerment of a person under 14. The child’s mother has also been charged with being involved in drug trafficking. The other two adults have not been named. Their trial date is scheduled for November 6, according to the Star.
“Our investigations have revealed multiple instances of illicit drug ingestion by a toddler,” OPP Supt. Angela Mackay said in a statement. “While unintentional death from drug ingestion is extremely rare, the investigation into this tragedy revealed that the accused deliberately kept these substances in the home, which combined to lead to the child’s death. This incident highlights the critical role parents play in keeping drugs out of the home. If we are to make our communities safe for all, we must do everything in our power to ensure this tragedy does not happen again.”
Investigators from the Toronto Police Service’s Organized Crime Bureau, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and Ontario’s Ministry of Children and Youth Services are continuing to “support the OPP’s ongoing criminal investigation,” according to Toronto police. The woman who is accused of child endangerment is the child’s 24-year-old mother. In addition to her child, she also has three other children aged 19, 15, and 12.
Investigators have not made the child’s brother, who was 7 years old at the time of his death, available for comment at this time. The toddler’s father was 24 at the time of his son’s death.
Read the full story at The Toronto Star.
Related
After 49ers star Aaron Lynch allegedly admits drug use, NFL scraps Raiders-NFLPA meeting to discuss addiction issues
Dr. Kurt Noll, NHL player and team owner who played a role in the “Camelot Express,” dies at 78
Mark Mirko, hockey reporter who broke Florida Gators’ rape scandal, dies at 46