Mother Charged In Her 1-Year-Old's Fentanyl Death

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis woman was charged with second-degree manslaughter after her 1-year-old child died of a fentanyl overdose in February.

Sandy Vilaihong, 29, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The charge was filed against her Monday. She was not taken into custody but instead charged via summons.

On Feb. 23, police responded to a report of a baby not breathing. At the home, officers started performing CPR.

Police found suspected fentanyl in the home, according to the criminal complaint.

The baby's father was at the home and "highly agitated," yelling at Vilaihong, police said. Vilaihong responded that "I know it's my fault," according to the criminal complaint.

The child was transported to the hospital but declared dead.

Vilaihong told police she bought up to 20 fentanyl pills the previous night, authorities said. She took about 15 pills and put the others in her bra and went to bed high, laying next to the baby, according to police.

The mother admitted her child must have consumed one or more of the pills, investigators said.

The baby died from a combination of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl toxicity, according to the medical examiner who performed the autopsy.