Detroit Mother Charged After Child Dies From Fentanyl: Officials

DETROIT — A Detroit mother is facing charges after her 4-year-old son died from fentanyl, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Officials found 4-year-old Anthony Scott Upshaw, Jr. dead from cardiac arrest in a home on the 18540 block of Fitzgerald Court in Detroit on April 10, 2022, officials said.

Chavon Caprice Boone, 40, was charged with felony murder, first-degree child abuse, and delivery of a narcotic causing death. She was placed in jail and her next court hearing was scheduled for May 31.

Boone was alone in Anthony's bedroom when she gave him narcotics that caused him to go into cardiac arrest and die, officials said.

Anthony's father was in another room sleeping when he was awakened by Boone's screams, officials said.

The father went to the bedroom upstairs and found Anthony unresponsive and began doing chest compressions, officials said.

Officials arrived at the home and took Anthony to a nearby hospital where he died, police said.

The medical examiner indicated that fentanyl was found in his system, but officials could not determine the cause of death because they did not know how the fentanyl got into Anthony's system.

On Friday, Boone called 911 and was taken to the Detroit Police Homicide Section, where she turned herself in for the murder of her son Anthony, officials said.

"There was an unexpected turn of events that brought to us to these charges," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "Everyone deserves not to be forgotten. This child is no longer a cold case statistic. We will bring justice to Anthony and his family."