A lengthy investigation into the death of a 4-year-old Pennsylvania boy led to the arrest of the child’s parents on charges of involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of children, and recklessly endangering another person.
An arrest affidavit says that the boy got into a baggie of fentanyl brought into the home the night before Jason and Amanda Moore called 911 about an unresponsive child on November 29, 2022, the Daily Local reported.
The investigation revealed that the couple had left for work that morning at about 7 a.m., forcing a 13-year-old to stay home from school to watch over the 4-year-old, who had begun feeling ill at about 7:30 the night before, and a 3-year-old. Amanda Moore called the older child just after 10:30, and the child reported being unable to awaken the 4-year-old.
Jason Moore returned home about 15 minutes later and called 911, but not before he removed drug paraphernalia from the house.
Even after Moore’s cleanup, investigators found a half-eaten lollipop that tested positive for fentanyl in the trash along with empty wrappers and bags that contained fentanyl on the floor.
The coroner’s office found fentanyl in the boy’s cardiac blood and brain tissue and determined his death to be a homicide caused by fentanyl toxicity.
Hair follicle testing determined that both Jason and Amanda Moore were users of the drugs, although Amanda Moore denied it.
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Police said there were seven other children living at the Moore’s home at the time of the child’s death.
“This is a devastating tragedy due to the defendants’ complete failure as parents,” said District Attorney Deb Ryan. “By bringing deadly drugs into their home they exposed their 4-year-old to this poison resulting in this innocent child’s death. They failed to meet even their most basic duties of responsibility and care.”
The Moores were arrested on August 10 and remain behind bars on bonds of $250,000 each. Should they be released, they are barred from contact withe children, including their own.
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[Featured image: Amanda and Jason Moore/Chester County District Attorney’s Office]
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