A Gainesville woman is sitting in the Alachua County Jail facing an aggravated manslaughter charge after medical examiners discovered her baby died from toxic levels of methamphetamine.
The investigation started last month. On the morning of May 19, dispatchers received a 911 call from a mother saying her infant wasn’t breathing. Deputies and fire rescue crews rushed to the home and immediately started lifesaving measures. The baby was taken to a local hospital, but despite the efforts of first responders and medical staff, the child was pronounced dead.
Detectives, crime scene investigators, and the Florida Department of Children and Families quickly opened a joint investigation to figure out exactly what happened. While serving their first search warrant at the home, detectives found small amounts of marijuana along with drug paraphernalia.
The turning point in the case came a few weeks later. The Medical Examiner’s Office delivered their findings to police, showing that the child’s death was directly caused by toxic levels of meth in the baby’s system.
Armed with those medical results, detectives returned to the home on June 10 with a second search warrant. They gathered more items for forensic testing and brought the child’s mother, Rebecca Morris, in for questioning later that day.
When the interview wrapped up, detectives arrested Morris. She was charged with one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child and booked into the local jail.
“This is a heartbreaking case involving the loss of a child whose life was cut tragically short,” Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott said following the arrest. “Our detectives conducted a thorough and deliberate investigation to ensure accountability in this case. We remain committed to seeking justice for this child and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”
The sheriff’s office says the case is still active. Investigators are asking anyone who might have more information about the situation to contact the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.
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