Mother pleads guilty in OD death of baby

SARASOTA — A woman pleaded guilty in the overdose death of an 8-month-old baby and will spend the majority of the next decade in prison, according to court documents.

Carissa Alexander, 30, was living in the 3800 block of Aberdeen Drive about a year ago with her husband, Nicolas, and their child.

Carissa Alexander pleaded guilty to two counts, including aggravated manslaughter of a child. She was given credit for about 290 days she’s been in Sarasota County Jail since the death of the child.

On the afternoon of May 31, 2023, a 911 call was placed to authorities. A family friend found the child, a girl, was “ice cold” and face down on a couch.

The investigation found the child had not been checked on in more than 10 hours. The child was rushed to HCA Florida Doctors Hospital.

During the drive, Nicholas Alexander administered Narcan to the child, believing she had gotten into his “stash,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated. The girl was found to have “lethal levels” of fentanyl in her system, according to the investigation.

Both Nicolas and Carissa Alexander were intoxicated when they were talking to detectives that day and night.

“It was clear that both subjects were impaired,” the probable cause stated. “They demonstrated slurred speech, difficulty focusing and an inability to remain awake.”

In his interview, Nicholas Alexander admitted to smoking crack cocaine and injecting cocaine at two different times in the previous 24 hours. He told investigators that Carissa “took a hit” of crack cocaine at about 10 a.m. May 31.

Carissa Alexander was found to have possession of a straw that tested positive for cocaine, oxycodone, xylaxine and fentanyl.

The baby had been seen on the couch at 7 a.m. that day, the report states, but she was last known to have been alive about midnight that morning.

At the hospital, officials said the baby had been dead “for a while,” discussing mottling and rigor mortis.

“In my 17 years experience, I’ve never seen anything like that,” a nurse told investigators at the time. “I’ve seen many deceased babies, but that’s the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Carissa Alexander also pleaded guilty to narcotics possession and/or use.

A trial for Nicholas Alexander for aggravated manslaughter of a child is set for the middle of October. He also faces charges of drug possession.

Nicholas Alexander has a criminal history involving theft and drugs dating back to 2008.