A mother has been charged after her three-year-old boy died from an overdose of fentanyl, according to a release from Robeson County Sheriff's Office.
Ana L. Jones, 32, of Pembroke, was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse.
On March 16, 2022, deputies responded to a home on Shird Ray Lane in reference to a cardiac arrest.
The child, Uriah Steen, Jr., was being administered CPR by a family member when deputies arrived, the release said.
Deputies said he was taken to UNC Southeastern Medical Center and pronounced dead upon arrival.
An autopsy was conducted by the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office and the death was determined to be caused by the ingestion of fentanyl, according to the sheriff's office.
Jones was placed in custody at the Robeson County Detention Center under a $300,00 secured bond.
“This is just an absolute tragic loss of one of the youngest members of our county," Sheriff Burnis Wilkins stated. “The loss of anyone is tragic enough but to have been caused by the careless and illegal actions of parent is sad. This is the reason we will continue to do our part in fighting this fentanyl epidemic. People must be held accountable for their actions and the courts must do it’s part in addressing this problem”.
The case was investigated by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile and Homicide Divisions. The Robeson County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-671-3170 or 910-671-3100.