20-Month-Old Dies Of Fentanyl Overdose, Mother Charged: Police

GAINESVILLE, VA — A woman is wanted by police after authorities said her 20-month-old child consumed fentanyl and died in June in Gainesville, according to the Prince William County Police Department.

Authorities have not identified the child by name.

The woman, 37-year-old Tiffany Nicole Stokes, is still at large. She is charged with felony homicide, felony child neglect, and possession of a schedule I or schedule II narcotic.

If convicted of all charges, Stokes could face up to 51 years in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

Investigators said Stokes is a Black woman who is about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

The police department began an investigation on June 23, 2022 around 3 a.m. At that time, first responders were called to the Somerset Pointe Apartments in Gainesville for an unconscious child, police said.

Stokes, the child's mother, told emergency personnel that she was co-sleeping with her child and found him unconscious when she woke up, according to the police report.

The boy died after first responders took him to a nearby hospital. After his death, the boy's body was taken to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

"At the time of the death, no suspicious or unusual circumstances were determined to have occurred," the police department said. "In early August, investigators received preliminary findings from the OCME [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner] indicating the child reportedly had a lethal amount of fentanyl in his blood, which caused his death."

Detectives determined the boy consumed an illicit fentanyl pill on either June 22 or June 23, which caused his death. Investigators said Stokes had access to Percocet pills that were not prescribed to her.

Stokes was officially charged on Wednesday after authorities reviewed the finalized report from the medical examiner. Authorities have not been able to find her and she has not turned herself in.

Anyone with more information about her whereabouts can contact the police department's tipline at 703-792-7000. Tips can also be submitted online.

Prince William County Community Services offers support and resources for families affected by drug use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration operates a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-662-4357.