4-Month-Old Baby Dies Of Drug Overdose, Father Charged: Prince George's Police

TAKOMA PARK, MD — A four-month-old has died and her father has been charged in connection to her death.

Prince George's Police were called to a motel in the 9400 block of Largo Drive West in the Largo area on Jan. 6 around 6:20 a.m. for a report of an unresponsive infant. The baby was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to police.

On March 4, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the baby’s death a homicide and the manner was a drug-related overdose.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the baby's father, 27-year-old Joseph Barrett of Takoma Park, had sole care and custody of the baby, Jaliyah Thompson, at the time of the incident. Barrett admitted to consuming the drug “Molly” while caring for and feeding the baby, police reported.

Barrett has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.