Bay Area mother charged in cocaine death of toddler

Woman charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse in death of her 2-year-old, who died of cocaine ingestion earlier this year.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

OAKLAND — An Oakland woman has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse in the death of her 2-year-old son, who died of cocaine ingestion.

Police said Friday that 39-year-old Fayson Howard was arrested earlier this week in connection with the May 23 death of her son, James Patrick Johnson III.

Paramedics went to Howard's apartment when the child was unresponsive and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sgt. Eric Milina said Howard, who was pregnant at the time, was questioned but released because there was no outward sign of trauma. An Alameda County coroner's autopsy later determined that the boy died of acute cocaine ingestion.

Milina said Howard told investigators she was her son's primary caregiver and admitted to using cocaine.

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