FL Toddler Dies From Meth, Fentanyl Overdose; Parents Charged

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — New Port Richey parents have been charged with aggravated manslaughter after being accused of exposing their 14-month-old son to methamphetamine and fentanyl.

New Port Richey police arrested Andrea Smarr, 26, on Thursday and John Valiquette, was arrested on Monday following an investigation that began Jan. 6 following the toddler's death.

According to an affidavit, Smarr told police she put her son in his crib the previous night, saying he was alive and healthy when he went to sleep.

At the time, the child didn’t show any signs of physical trauma, but police said they found methamphetamine and fentanyl in the home.

A surveillance video in the living room showed the child was with his father before his mother put him to beg. Valiquette was asleep on the floor at the time while the toddler wandered around the living room unsupervised. At one point, the boy picked up a scrap of tin foil and put it in his mouth.

Smarr, holding a pipe "commonly used to smoke methamphetamine," walked up to the toddler and removed the tin foil from his mouth before putting him in his crib, the video showed.

She found her son dead the next morning and called police.

A medical examiner performed an autopsy on the toddler and concluded the child died from drug toxicity from ingesting fentanyl and methamphetamine.

In addition to the couple being charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, Valiquette was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. He remains in jail on $250,000 bail.

Smarr remains in custody without bond.