MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee mother is facing more than 30 years in prison after her infant child died of an apparent drug overdose, according to a criminal complaint.
29-year-old Kiara Hopson was charged last week with four counts of neglecting a child as a party to a crime. Prosecutors say Hopson's 10-month-old child died "due to acute drug intoxication." The infant's blood tested positive for morphine and fentanyl, among other substances.
Records from Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the child as Rayah Coleman.
According to the complaint, Colemen became unresponsive on the evening of October 25th. Hopson told police that she was cleaning when she noticed something was wrong and noticed the baby was not breathing. Hopson's 12-year-old child called 911, but the infant was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives found digital scales that were covered in a white powdery substance inside the home. Testing later revealed that substance contained fentanyl, the complaint says.
Further testing was also performed on Hopson's other children. Three of them tested positive for various substances, including benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
According to the complaint, Hopson and a man identified as the father of 4 of the 5 children gave police conflicting statements surrounding their whereabouts the day Coleman died.
Hopson faces 30 and a half years in prison if convicted of all four counts.
Hopson was released to an alternative program for supervision on the condition she follows the terms that were ordered.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney office stated charges are under review for another individual in this case.
Mary Jo Ola will have more on this story today on TMJ4 News at 5.
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