Mother Charged in Toddler's Overdose Death

The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled the child died of methadone toxicity

A South Shore mother has been criminally charged after authorities ruled her 22­-month­ old daughter died of methadone poisoning while left with the woman’s bedridden husband for more than 14 hours, the Sun-Times is reporting.

Jasmine Robinson, 23, of the 6900 block of South Jeffery, was arrested Sunday and charged with child endangerment leading to death, records show. Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered her released on her own recognizance Monday.

Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen Rogers said Robinson left home at 9 p.m. Feb. 14 and didn’t return until 11:30 a.m. the next day. Besides 22­-month­-old Mariah Robinson, she also left behind two other children, ages 4 and 5.

Rogers said the children were left with Robinson’s bedridden husband who suffered from brain and spinal cancer and was unable to walk or get out of bed.

When Robinson returned, Rogers said, she found her daughter dead on the couch with an empty methadone bottle under her body. Rogers said Robinson called 911.

The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled the child died of methadone toxicity, according to Chicago police reports.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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