Dad Admits Guilt In Fentanyl Death of 10-Month-Old Baby Girl

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY — A Hudson Valley father has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of his 10-month-old daughter.

Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi announced on Thursday that 41-year-old Thomas Martinez, of Wappingers Falls, pleaded guilty to the felony. The charge stems from an incident in 2020, in the Village of Wappingers Falls.

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SEE ALSO: Dutchess County Man Arrested In Fentanyl Intoxication Death Of 10-Month-Old Child: NYSP

On Nov. 9, 2020, at 6:09 p.m., troopers were dispatched by Dutchess County 911 to a home on Creekview Court, in the Village of Wappingers Falls, after state police received a report of an unconscious 10-month-old child.

The child was taken by EMS to Vassar Brothers Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy conducted by the Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office determined the cause of death to be acute fentanyl intoxication.

After a five-year-long investigation, in conjunction with the Dutchess County DA's Office, the child's father, Martinez, who was responsible for the child's care at the time of the incident, was arrested and charged with felony criminally negligent homicide, according to NYSP.

Martinez admitted he failed to take reasonable precautions to prevent his daughter from being exposed to fentanyl. He also admitted to creating and failing to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that death would occur, and that his conduct was a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonable person would exhibit in the same situation. As a direct result of that negligent conduct, the infant died from acute fentanyl toxicity, according to the plea deal.

"This is a heartbreaking and deeply disturbing case involving the preventable death of an innocent child," Parisi said. "The defendant admitted that his reckless and negligent conduct created the circumstances that led to a 10-month-old child being exposed to fentanyl and ultimately losing her life. Fentanyl continues to devastate families and communities, and this case underscores the tragic and deadly consequences that can result when dangerous narcotics are present around children."

The DA commended the New York State Police, as well as Senior Assistant DA Chelsy Jones and Unit Chief Pamela Bloomfield, for their work in securing accountability in the case.

Martinez was remanded without bail to the Dutchess County Jail. He is scheduled to return to court on June 26, for sentencing.