Baby dies after ingesting fatal drugs from mother’s breastmilk: Report

A Pennsylvania mother is facing criminal homicide charges for allegedly killing her 11-week-old son by breastfeeding him while using drugs.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by CNN, Samantha Jones, 30, of Bucks County, killed her son, R.J., with a “combination of fatal drugs [injested] through breast milk.” An autopsy determined the infant had traces of methadone, amphetamine, and methamphetamine in his blood which directly contributed to his April 2 death.

An affidavit stated that Jones told police she was too tired at 3 a.m. to get a bottle of formula so she breastfed him. Her husband reportedly prepared a bottle and left it with Jones before he left for work. Jones recalled feeding R.J. with the bottle and putting him back in his crib at 6:30 a.m., it said.

Jones said it was about an hour after that when she woke up to find R.J. pale and bloody mucus expelling from his nose. CNN reported that Jones, along with her mother, performed CPR and called 911. Despite this, the infant was pronounced dead at a hospital about an hour later.

While Jones reportedly told investigators that she’s been prescribed methadone since her pregnancy to treat an opiate addiction, the affidavit didn’t explain why amphetamine and methamphetamine were found in the 11-week-old’s blood. Investigators found no traces of drugs in the last bottle Jones fed R.J. in addition to the can of formula.

WPVI reported that Jones’ 2-year-old son is in his father’s care. Her arraignment is scheduled for September 28.

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