After their 18-month-old son tragically died on Christmas Day from fentanyl intoxication, a Minnesota couple is charged with manslaughter.#Minnesota #News #St. Paul, Minnesota #Crime
M. St. PaulAfter their 18-month-old baby died on Christmas Day from fentanyl, a Minnesota couple is now charged with second-degree manslaughter in a heartbreaking case of addiction and abuse. There are concerns over responsibility and the safety of two other small children who witnessed the tragic event, which took place in a home where addiction and tragedy met.
Christmas Day Emergency Turns Fatal
Around 1:30 p.m. on December 25, police were called to a home in St. Paul located in the 1000 block of 5th Street East. Jeffrey Weidell, a 38-year-old father, said he discovered his toddler unconscious, with blue lips and no evidence of breathing.
Officers found disturbing evidence upon arrival, including as residue on a couch that suggested drug use. At first, Weidell pointed detectives toward his 32-year-old partner, Jasmine Ryan, claiming she would know more about their son’s fentanyl exposure.
Officers discovered Ryan trying to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the youngster in the kitchen of the house. The police swiftly took control, but sadly, their efforts were in futile.
Ryan acknowledged administering Narcan, a drug used to counteract opioid overdoses, and acknowledged the presence of fentanyl when asked about the situation.
Parents Blame Each Other Amid Evidence of Drug Use
Ryan suggested that Weidell was the cause of the fentanyl exposure when she informed authorities that she had been taking a shower while he was with the child.
She added that Weidell regularly smoked the substance in different areas of the house and thought the toddler’s consumption was less than a quarter of a gram. Weidell, however, denied any recent use, asserting that Ryan was the one who was battling addiction.
A knife and bits of tin foil, which are frequently used for smoking drugs, were among the incriminating evidence found during a search of Weidell’s possessions. For their own protection, police took both children out of the house after finding more foil close to the couple’s four-year-old daughter, who was seated in the living room.
History of Addiction and Neglect
Ryan acknowledged consuming fentanyl on Christmas Eve while being questioned. While being taken to the station, investigators observed her numbness, emotionlessness, and seeming indifference to her son’s health.
Ryan subsequently disclosed her lengthy battle with substance misuse, alleging that Weidell had exposed her to fentanyl and heroin when they were together.
This episode is only one part of the couple’s terrible drug history. When their youngest kid was born in November, a fentanyl test result was positive. The loss of their toddler adds a somber new chapter to their story, even though child protection services had already been involved.
Charges Filed and Search for Justice
What should have been a happy holiday came to a devastating end when their kid was declared dead at 2:20 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Weidell is still at large, and Ryan has since appeared in court for the first time. In connection with this case and another theft charge, authorities have issued an arrest warrant for him.
As authorities attempt to piece together the circumstances leading up to this unimaginable loss, their surviving children are currently in the custody of Ramsey County Child Protection.
CONNECTED TOPICS: Minnesota Crime
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