Boston Woman Charged In Connection With Fentanyl Death Daughter

The woman has been arrested more than two months after the tragic incident.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 26, 2026 11:52 AM EDT

Familia was scheduled to be arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court (Jenna Fisher/Patch)

BOSTON, MA — A woman is facing a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of her 4-year-old daughter, who died from fentanyl intoxication earlier this year, according to the Boston Police Department.

Dayanna Familia, 35, of Dorchester, was arrested at approximately 10:25 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, near 17 Eastbrook Road in Dedham by members of the Boston Police Fugitive Unit. Familia was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant issued out of Dorchester District Court in connection with the death of her daughter, Liyanna Bautista Familia, in August.

According to police, the charges stem from an incident that occurred Monday, Aug. 17, at approximately 8:51 p.m. when officers responded to a report at 200 Fuller St. in Dorchester.

Upon arrival, officers located the unresponsive 4-year-old girl and immediately began administering CPR. The child was reportedly in cardiac arrest and was transported to Boston Children's Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Following an autopsy, the cause of death was determined to be acute fentanyl intoxication. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office subsequently confirmed that Liyanna died after ingesting fentanyl.

Familia faces charges of manslaughter, possession of Class A drugs, destruction of evidence, and intentionally misleading an investigator in a criminal investigation, according to police. Court records also reportedly list a charge of reckless endangerment of a child.

Familia was scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, Oct. 26, in Dorchester Municipal Court. The Boston Police Department's Homicide Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child's death.