A Columbia County, Georgia, mother and aunt are facing second-degree murder charges in the death of a toddler from fentanyl poisoning, authorities said.
Investigators responded to a home in the 2400 block of Appling Drive on Feb. 29 after a report of an unresponsive 13-month-old baby, WJBF. reportThe baby’s mother, Mitra Elzey, told police the baby was not breathing.
According to the incident report, Elzie told police she was cleaning her aunt, DeAngela Belton’s, house that evening when she noticed the baby crawling on the kitchen floor.
“After everyone went to bed, she got up to check on us. [the baby] They found her face down and not breathing. She tried to wake her child and then called 911, according to the report. [the baby] He may have come into contact with cleaning chemicals while on the floor, Ellzey said. [the baby] She had white powder on her hands, but I assumed it was dust from the bottom of the cabinet.”
Paramedics rushed the baby to Augusta University Hospital, but he did not survive. Subsequent toxicology reports revealed he died from exposure to fentanyl and xylazine.
According to the report, investigators found that both Elzy and Belton had brought drugs into the home. Elzy was arrested and Belton was already in custody on other charges.
