A tragic incident occurred in Missouri, where a mother has been charged with the death of her teenage daughter after allegedly giving her a lethal dose of fentanyl in response to a toothache complaint. Jacquelyn Powers faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, resulting in the death of a child.
The heartbreaking incident took place in their Overland home, a suburb of St. Louis, when Powers’ 14-year-old daughter complained of a toothache on October 3. After attempting to alleviate the pain with Tylenol, Powers reportedly gave her daughter a pill she found in her drawer. Unfortunately, the teenager was found dead approximately 10 hours after taking the pill.
Initially, Powers believed she had given her daughter oxycodone, which she had from a previous surgery. However, an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a fentanyl overdose, with no presence of oxycodone in the teenager’s system. Powers explained to investigators that she had the fentanyl pills as a result of trading some of her oxycodone with her mother to protect her from dangerous street drugs.
Further investigation revealed that Powers had stored the fentanyl pills in her drawer, leading to the tragic outcome. The police found other street drugs inside the home where other minor children were present. Powers was arrested and taken into custody on a $150,000 bond at the St. Louis County jail, awaiting court proceedings.
The charge of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, resulting in the death of a child, is considered a Class A felony with severe potential penalties. If convicted, Powers could face up to a life sentence with the possibility of parole. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 11, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the tragic consequences of the mother’s actions.
