East Naples couple faces charges after months-old infant overdoses on fentanyl, CCSO says
An East Naples couple faces child neglect charges after authorities say their toddler overdosed on fentanyl, ultimately surviving.
Richard Mahoney, 45, and Caitlin Smith, 30, face charges of child neglect without great bodily harm.
According to an arrest report, shortly before 8:30 a.m. Sept. 4, 2023, a 911 call alerted of an infant ― less than a year old ― on the floor, gasping for air with his eyes rolling to the back of his head.
An 8-year-old child told deputies she saw the toddler with a piece of foil in his mouth before the incident. The toddler was taken to NCH North.
Infant 'slightly responsive' after Narcan, CCSO report said
Dr. Pia Myers, a pediatric emergency room physician, said the infant was unresponsive and was receiving breathing assistance. After Narcan was administered, the infant became "slightly responsive," the redacted sheriff's report says.
Myers said that's only possible if the toddler was exposed to opioids.
Deputies noted that while in the emergency room, the toddler "cried loudly," but his eyes never opened. When Myers opened the infant's eyelids, she told deputies, his pupils weren't responding normally, the report indicates.
Suspect says she overdosed on meth in the past, report said
When deputies spoke with Smith, she said she woke up about an hour before the 911 call, when Mahoney left for work, the report says.
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Smith said she gave the toddler a bottle and changed his diaper. She also told investigators that she did not know where or how the toddler might’ve come across the narcotics.
"I have no idea, I am like so confused, because I don't do it, I don't know if Richard does or not, I don't think he does," Smith told authorities, according to the report.
When asked about drug history in the family, Smith told Collier County deputies she overdosed on Methamphetamine six or seven years prior, which caused her to have a stroke, according to the report.
A search warrant led to the discovery of a cigarette pack containing suspected marijuana and residue, which tested positive for cocaine, among other items, according to the report.
Smith also told deputies she last used fentanyl 3 days prior
When authorities further questioned her, Smith revealed she had last used fentanyl three days before the medical incident.
The report notes the toddler remained in intensive care for two days before his release.
Mahoney was released Wednesday and Smith on Thursday, both on $5,000 bond. They're both next due in court June 17 for their arraignments.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: East Naples couple arrested after infant overdoses on fentanyl
