Milwaukee mother charged in infant's overdose death and neglect of other children
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee woman has been charged with four counts of child neglect, one resulting in the overdose and death of her infant, officials report. The criminal complaint alleges that 29-year-old Kiara Hopson failed to provide necessary care for her children at their N. Water Street home.
The most severe charge involves the alleged neglect of her 10-month-old baby, who was found unresponsive and later declared deceased. According to the complaint, Hopson is accused of neglecting other children as well.
The document describes a distressing scene where Hopson, after a brief absence, returned home to find her infant unresponsive, leading to her to reportedly say, "My baby isn't breathing!" Despite emergency services' efforts, the child's life could not be saved.
Investigations into Hopson's home allegedly uncovered narcotics and paraphernalia, raising concerns over the safety and well-being of the children. Medical reports indicated the presence of fentanyl in the infant's system, leading to acute drug intoxication as the cause of death.
The complaint details drug tests that were conducted on Hopson's three surviving children. A 3-year-old child tested positive for fentanyl and norfentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, as well as benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. An 8-year-old's urine sample tested positive for cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant not approved for use in children under 15. The 8-year-old also showed the presence of the same metabolite of cocaine found in the system of the 3-year-old.
Hopson now faces one count of neglecting a child resulting in great bodily harm, classified as a Class F Felony, which carries a potential maximum penalty of $25,000 in fines and up to 12 years and 6 months in prison. The three counts additional charges of neglecting a child resulting in bodily harm, each a Class H Felony, could result in a fine of up to $10,000 and a maximum of 6 years in prison for each count.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 8:30 a.m. in Milwaukee County Court.