Authorities claim an Indiana toddler died of a fentanyl overdose, and two other children were taken to the hospital after being exposed to the drug from a stash inside a home.
According to the Evansville Courier & Press, Kamari Opperman, 3, and two other children, ages 2 and 4, “got hold” of a bag of fentanyl pills at an Evansville home on Wednesday.
Officers responded to a call after it was reported that 3-year-old Kamari was not breathing. The grandmother told police the child had taken fentanyl the day before, but the child’s mother did not take her to the hospital fearing she would be taken by child protective services.
The affidavit stated two other young children aged 2 and 4 were rushed to the hospital and the 2-year-old was provided the anti-OD medicine, Narcan.
Prosecutors claimed that another infant may have also been exposed to the lethal substance at the home, where police discovered 5,600 fentanyl tablets. Court documents show that six people were arrested when emergency responders discovered Opperman dead. Makaylee Jade Opperman, Amber Opperman; and Brandon Keith Opperman were all preliminarily charged with neglect of a dependent causing death. Makaylee, the mother of the children is also facing a drug charge. Brandon and Amber are the grandparents.
Allison Smithler, Makaylee’s half-sister, Jazmynn Brown and her boyfriend, Arcinial Watt all stayed at the home and were charged with dealing controlled substances. Smithler and Brown are also charged with neglect of a dependent.
On Thursday Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann said “This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for our whole community.”
Sgt. Anna Gray, a police spokesperson, said The Evansville-Vanderburgh County Joint Drug Task Force is “constantly dealing with fentanyl.”
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