A San Francisco couple has been formally charged with murder in connection with the fentanyl overdose death of a 2-year-old earlier this year.
According to the press release, citing court documents, San Francisco police found the 2-year-old unresponsive while responding to a 911 call reporting a child not breathing at a residence on the 3800 block of 18th Street in the Mission Dolores neighborhood. The child was pronounced dead at the scene by medics, who indicated the death had occurred hours earlier.
Officials said officers found drug paraphernalia at the scene, including several used pipes, a white powder later identified as fentanyl, and a used container of Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Officers also said Price "exhibited droopy eyes, slurred speech, and an emotionless demeanor."
Price and Ramirez were initially each charged with felony child endangerment, possession of fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Ramirez was also charged with an additional count of possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as resisting, obstructing, and delaying a peace officer.
Officials said the medical examiner found no obvious signs that the toddler had suffered physical trauma. The toxicology results showed lethal levels of fentanyl and naloxone in the child's bloodstream, and the cause of her death was determined to be acute fentanyl toxicity. Tests conducted at the time Price and Ramirez were arrested also found high levels of fentanyl and methamphetamine in their blood.
The recent charges against Price and Ramirez mark the first time the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has filed a murder case in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose. At a press conference Wednesday, Jenkins said she believed the charges were appropriate in this particular case.
Prosecutors said the investigation into the child's death remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department's tip line by calling 1-415-575-4444 or texting TIP411.