Los Angeles police officers arrested a suspect in connection to the deaths of two young children from an apparent fentanyl overdose. The saddest part: The prime suspect is the parent of the victims.
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Police and paramedics said they responded to the home of Jestice James, 22, in Canoga Park last Thursday morning after she called 911 to report her two twin boys were unresponsive. The children, 3-year-old Jestine and Josiah, were rushed to the hospital. Josiah was pronounced dead by the afternoon, per the DA’s office. Jestine died two days later.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the children had ingested, or been exposed to, an unknown substance,” the LAPD said in a statement. Prosecutors now argue there’s evidence to prove the “unknown substance” was actually fentanyl.
In the past six months, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami said he was notified of five isolated cases of children dying of fentanyl overdoses, per ABC 7 News.
A 2023 report from JAMA Pediatrics found over 5,000 children and teens died from fentanyl-related overdoses in the past two decades with a serious spike around the COVID-19 epidemic.
The boys’ mother was arrested by officer with the Juvenile Division/Abused Child Unit the evening her boys were taken to the hospital. She was charged with two counts each of murder, child abuse and child endangerment, per the DA. James remains in custody with a bail set at $4 million, records show.
“They were very loving and goofy babies, always laughing and very energetic like most 3 year olds. They brought much joy into our lives from the day they were born. Our hearts are broken,” wrote the boys’ family in a GoFundMe arranged for their funeral expenses.
The boys had just celebrated their third birthday July 9, per ABC’s report.
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