Pearlandria Boujolly, 29 years old, was arrested in Miami-Dade this Thursday and charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter following the death of her 18-month-old son due to accidental ingestion of fentanyl and cocaine, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
The case dates back to January 3 of this year, when the Miami Police and the fire rescue team responded, shortly after three in the morning, to a report of a baby boy who was unresponsive in a residence in the county.
The boy was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
The autopsy conducted by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Department detected approximately 11 nanograms of fentanyl and traces of cocaine in the blood of the minor.
The investigation determined that narcotics had been left in an unlocked room inside the home, and that the child ingested them accidentally. Authorities specified that Boujolly was not at the residence at that time.
A central element of the case is the video captured by a Ring camera installed in the home. The footage shows the baby putting a white substance in their mouth, and minutes later, trying to stand up repeatedly, losing balance, and falling.
Shortly after 9:22 PM, the little one crawled to his usual resting place and stopped moving. Hours later, around 3:41 AM, the same camera recorded the mother screaming upon discovering that the child was unresponsive.
The arrest warrant also notes that, in the hours leading up to that moment, the camera shows Boujolly cleaning areas of the kitchen and the living room before lying down near the child.
During a subsequent search of the residence, investigators found narcotics and three loaded and unsecured firearms inside the same room that remained unlocked.
The arrest was carried out on Thursday, August 20, by agents from the South Florida S.A.F.E. (State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication) Task Force of the FDLE, along with the Miami Police.
Boujolly was transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Detention Center in West Miami-Dade, with bail set between $50,000 and $55,000. Jail records indicate that she also faces a separate charge of credit card fraud.
"It is a heart-wrenching day when a child loses their life within their own home due to the recklessness of one of their parents and dangerous drugs left within reach," stated Miami-Dade State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
On his part, the head of the Miami Police, Edwin Lopez, described the death as "a heartbreaking and completely preventable tragedy" and warned that "there is zero tolerance for negligence that puts the life of an innocent child at risk."
Involuntary manslaughter of a minor is a first degree felony in Florida that carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
The investigation by the Miami-Dade Prosecutor's Office remains active and could lead to additional charges.
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