A mother in Georgia is being investigated by the Cobb County police after her son who passed away was found to have fentanyl in his blood.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, Jocelyn Romero stated that her son choked on a piece of bread while he was sleeping next to her at their residence in Smyrna. She said she noticed he was fine when she briefly left the room.
The toxicology report tells a different story. according to investigators, Channel 2 Action News reports.
Homeland Security agents raided Romero’s home a month before the victim’s death, and they found fentanyl and almost 30 grams of cocaine. It was later discovered that the victim had access to the drugs, which led to charges against Romero for trafficking and reckless conduct.
Neighbor Brianna Lee said, “It’s really difficult to hear, really. Having a 3-year-old that just turned three. She wasn’t taking care of the child. If you got raided for drugs, you weren’t taking care of that child in any way.”
Michele Newell, Channel 2’s Cobb County Bureau Chief, reached out to the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services to ask why the defendant still had custody of the boy after the drug charges. The station received the following statement.
“DHS/DFCS is bound by both state and federal law to protect the privacy of the people we serve. Therefore, we are unable to comment on the specifics of any reported abuse or neglect cases. We take every report made to the agency seriously and collaborate with law enforcement when necessary to ensure the safety of Georgia’s children.”
The story is still developing. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Jocelyn Romero/Cobb County Police Department]