PA Mom Suffocated Baby After Taking Drugs, Falling Asleep On Him: Police

GUILFORD, PA — A Franklin County woman is facing charges after police say she took drugs and fell asleep on her newborn son, suffocating him, according to a report citing Pennsylvania State Police.

Destinee Griffin-Bailey has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the May 2021 death of her 6-day-old son, Xander, the Chambersburg Public Opinion reported.

Griffin-Bailey told police she ingested a drug called "scramble" before feeding the infant a bottle, according to the Public Opinion. "Scramble" typically is a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Griffin-Bailey told police she sat cross-legged with the baby on her lap and "slumped over" him while holding a bottle in his mouth. She said she woke up and found the baby was unresponsive. The bottle was still in his mouth, reports said.

The infant's autopsy report showed he of "positional asphyxia," the Public Opinion reported.

Griffin-Bailey's preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 12 in Franklin County Central Court.