Boston parents charged with killing their 5-week-old baby girl; fentanyl and cocaine found in infant’s blood
A Dorchester father and mother have been charged with killing their 5-week-old baby girl, according to officials who said fentanyl and cocaine were found in the infant’s blood.
Gerard Winn, 52, and Raynell Reed, 31, have been charged with manslaughter, the Suffolk DA’s office announced on Monday.
Reed first learned she was pregnant in September 2024 and was told that her expected due date was Feb. 7, 2025.
But Reed gave birth at home to a girl on Dec. 5, 2024 — two months premature.
During the five weeks of the infant’s life, she failed to gain or maintain weight and was severely malnourished, according to prosecutors.
Despite knowing that their baby was born two months premature and seeing the newborn was unable to gain or maintain weight, Reed and Winn allegedly never sought any medical care for the infant as her health continued to significantly deteriorate, prosecutors said.
Then on Jan. 9 at 10 a.m., Reed called 911 reporting that the baby was not breathing. Boston Police and Emergency Medical Services responded, and the infant was transported to Boston Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The infant weighed only 2.5 pounds when she died.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the infant died due to “acute intoxication from the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, in a premature infant with malnourishment and sepsis,” the Suffolk DA’s office wrote.
Toxicology confirmed the presence of both fentanyl and cocaine in the infant’s heart blood and liver blood.
Reed and Winn allegedly used illegal substances in the infant’s presence, resulting in her exposure to these substances.
“It’s difficult to conceive of something more tragic than a child being born and then ignored to the extent it leads to death by malnourishment and sheer neglect,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said in a statement.
“The allegation that the parents were using dangerous drugs in the newborn’s presence only adds to the terrible aspects of this crime,” the DA added.
Related Articles
Ticker: U.S. trade deficit drops 24%; Baby botulism numbers climb
During the arraignment, the pair was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
Both are due back in court on Dec. 18.
