11-week-old boy dies after mom transfers meth, other drugs, through breast milk: Cops

A Pennsylvania woman is facing homicide charges in connection to her infant son’s death earlier this year.

According to Fox News, 30-year-old Samantha Jones said she had been battling an addiction to pain medication and had been taking prescribed methadone throughout her pregnancy and while breastfeeding her newborn.

The 11-week-old child, R.J., died on April 2, according to authorities who say the cause was drug transmission through Jones’ breast milk.

Authorities found the child in cardiac arrest after the suspect’s mother called 911.

Jones reportedly told authorities that she had switched from breast milk to formula three days before her child died. She said she chose to breastfeed on that morning, though, because he woke up crying at about 3 a.m. and she did not have the energy to prepare a bottle.

After feeding him formula at about 6 a.m. and going back to sleep, she said she awoke to find him with pale skin and a bloody nasal discharge.

An autopsy revealed the baby had methadone, amphetamine and methamphetamine, as reported by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office.

Another son, age 2, was placed his his father’s custody.

Though Jones’ lawyer argued that she should be granted release with a low bail because the death was not intentional, a judge ordered her to be jailed in lieu of $3 million bail.

[Featured image: Samantha Jones, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office]