Baby Girl Dies from Fentanyl-Laced Pacifier as Parents Allegedly Operate Dogfighting Ring
A tragic case has emerged in South Carolina, where a 10-month-old baby died from a fentanyl overdose after reportedly being left with a pacifier coated in the lethal drug. The baby’s mother, Sara Constance Shakeri-Taylor, has been charged with homicide by child abuse, while both parents face additional charges related to managing a dogfighting operation.
According to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, the 39-year-old mother is accused of lacing her daughter’s pacifier with fentanyl. The horrifying incident came to light in May when authorities were alerted to an unresponsive baby in Ladson, a community about 20 miles northwest of Charleston. Deputies were dispatched after the child’s father, 41-year-old Sandy Gathers, returned home from work around 3 p.m. on May 15 to find his daughter lying lifeless on the bed while Shakeri-Taylor was asleep.
Gathers, who reported the incident to the police, informed them that Shakeri-Taylor was primarily responsible for the child’s care. Despite attempts by deputies, firefighters, and paramedics to revive the baby, whose name has not been disclosed, she was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly afterward.
An initial post-mortem examination did not reveal any visible injuries, leading to a standard toxicology test. The results showed that the baby had ingested a significant amount of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, suggesting the drug had been consumed orally. This discovery led authorities to file murder charges against Shakeri-Taylor, WTVM reported.
Court documents revealed that investigators found additional evidence at the scene, including baby bottles, formula, a pacifier, and a dollar bill with a powdery substance, all of which tested positive for fentanyl. Shakeri-Taylor reportedly admitted to previous fentanyl use but refused to provide a blood sample on the day of her daughter’s death.
Charleston Sheriff Kristin Graziano expressed her deep concern over the case, stating, “As a parent, it shakes me to my core to see people be so careless and negligent with their children. This mother made a terrible decision, and she is where she belongs. The people of Charleston County should be advised that my deputies work hard to get people like this off the street.”
The investigation also uncovered signs of animal cruelty at the residence, including evidence of dog fighting. Authorities discovered around 15 dogs, mostly pit bulls, tethered and caged with heavy-duty chains, along with equipment commonly used in dogfighting.
Gathers, the baby’s father, has been charged with multiple counts related to animal fighting, ill-treatment of animals, and firearm possession, but he has not been charged in connection with the child’s death. The case has highlighted the devastating consequences of fentanyl exposure and the dangers of illegal dogfighting activities, as both parents now face the legal repercussions of their actions.