Mom found guilty after infant daughter dies drinking fentanyl-filled sippy cup

A prosecutor said a Pittsburgh mom killed her baby by placing fentanyl in the child’s sippy cup so she could “relax and smoke marijuana,” it was reported. She has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.

Allegheny County jurors convicted 23-year-old Jhenea Pratt on the two charges Tuesday in the death of 17-month-old Charlette Napper-Talley. But the panel, which began deliberations Monday, rejected convicting her of first- or third-degree murder.

Emergency responders found the toddler not breathing in April 2018, and authorities in Allegheny County said a lethal amount of fentanyl was found in her blood. They said Pratt told them she had “no clue” how the drug ended up in the beverage.

Defense attorney Brandon Herring said his client “has always maintained that she would never intentionally hurt” her child.