Florida baby dies from fentanyl overdose

The investigation into the death of an eight-month-old baby on May 31, in Sarasota County resulted last Friday in the arrest of the boy's parents. Both parents are charged with one count of aggravated manslaughter of a minor. The investigation points to a fentanyl overdose as the cause of the baby's death.

According to the Sarasota Sheriff's Office, sheriff's deputies responded to an emergency call on Bee Ridge Road. The call came in about the death of a minor who, according to the Sheriff's Office, was unresponsive when he was transported to Sarasota Doctors Hospital by his father, Nicholas Alexander, and an acquaintance.

Sheriff's deputies concluded that the minor was in the care of Carissa Alexander, the child's mother. The baby would have spent almost seven hours without the mother's concern, face down on the cushions of a sofa. Between 10:30 am and 4:45 pm, no one noticed the baby until Nicholas Alexander returned from work.

Sarasota Sheriff's Office deputies detained the parents and they were questioned. They also underwent some blood and urine tests. During interrogations, they gave contradictory answers.

Shortly thereafter, authorities were able to ascertain that the eight-month-old baby had been dead for several hours when he was admitted to the hospital. Lethal traces of fentanyl were found in his system.

As of last Friday, Nicholas and Carissa Alexander have been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a minor and are being held without bond at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility.