BREAKING: A Santa Rosa grandmother and her daughter have been arrested after their 11-month-old baby was poisoned by fentanyl. This alarming incident occurred on October 15, 2023, around 7 p.m. at a residence on Range Avenue, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.
The baby girl, who was exposed to the potent synthetic opioid, has since recovered at a local hospital. Law enforcement officials report that the child’s mother, identified as Shaylynne Watson, age 35, had been present with her four children, aged from 11 months to 9 years, in her mother Beverly Hansel‘s apartment for several hours.
While Watson’s three older children were in another room with Hansel, the baby was on the floor of a bedroom nearby. Investigators believe the child picked up a small, white substance that Watson suspected might be fentanyl.
In a concerning turn of events, after realizing the potential danger, Watson alerted Hansel, who promptly administered Narcan to counteract a possible overdose. However, neither woman called 911 for immediate medical assistance, police confirmed.
Approximately five hours later, after monitoring the baby for symptoms, Watson took her to a hospital for evaluation. The investigation revealed the baby had indeed been exposed to fentanyl. Police were alerted at 3:40 a.m. on Monday, when officers arrived at the hospital.
Following a search warrant executed at Hansel’s apartment on Monday afternoon, detectives found narcotics paraphernalia, alongside methamphetamine and black tar heroin throughout the residence. Many of these dangerous items were located in areas accessible to children, raising serious safety concerns.
Police concluded that both Watson and Hansel were responsible for the baby’s exposure to the life-threatening substance. In response, officials from Child Protective Services intervened, removing all four children from Watson’s custody.
Watson has since been arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on charges of felony child endangerment. Meanwhile, Hansel faces charges related to child endangerment and drug possession.
The Santa Rosa Police Department warns that fentanyl is extremely potent—up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even minute quantities can be fatal, especially to children.
As this story continues to develop, authorities emphasize the urgent need for awareness regarding the dangers of fentanyl exposure, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. The community is urged to stay informed and vigilant in order to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.
