Florida toddler’s death caused by fentanyl, meth overdose, sheriff says
OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) — A 15-month-old boy who was found dead at his home in March overdosed on multiple drugs, including fentanyl, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a news conference
The autopsy performed on 15-month-old Daltin Miller revealed that fentanyl, methamphetamine and the animal tranquilizer xylazine were in his system at the time of his death, according to NBC affiliate WESH.
“This was all in the victim’s blood and liver indicating the child had eaten these drugs,” Sheriff Billy Wood said.
Police found fentanyl near the child’s body when they were called to the Ocala home on March 1. The parents, who called to report the unresponsive child, were identified as Kelli Starling and Daniel Miller.
A person representing the family told WESH that relatives lost custody of Daltin to his father.
He was granted custody for getting clean off drugs less than a month before the child’s death. Daltin’s mother was not allowed in the home due to her drug use but resided there anyway.
A neighbor told WESH their home was known in the community as a drug house. They reported hearing loud music, screaming, fights, and doors slamming at the home.
Some neighbors claimed the Florida Department of Children and Families never came out to the home to investigate the toddler’s living conditions.
“It breaks your heart. You can’t really put into words the loss of a child you were fighting so hard to keep, and it wasn’t a malicious fight. It was like, ‘Hey, please look at what you are about to put this child through’,” Gladys Vazquez, a family friend, told WESH.
The parents were arrested on Wednesday, according to WESH, and deputies said Daltin’s father had fentanyl in his pocket at the time he was taken into custody.
They each were charged with homicide and aggravated child manslaughter. They remained at the Marion County jail on Friday with no bond.
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