A jury on Tuesday convicted a Pittsburgh mom of involuntary manslaughter for the 2018 death of her toddler from an overdose of fentanyl in her sippy cup.
Jurors deliberated for about a day Tuesday before finding Jhenea Pratt, 23, guilty.
Pratt’s 17-month-old daughter, Charlette Napper-Talley, was pronounced dead April 5, 2018, about an hour after Pratt called paramedics to her East Hills apartment. Medics noted the toddler was cold and not breathing when they arrived.
An autopsy later showed the toddler had ingested the powerful opioid fentanyl. Two separate blood tests confirmed the overdose.
Investigators collected two sippy cups at Pratt’s apartment, one of which was in the child’s bed. That one tested positive for fentanyl, police said.
Jurors had the option to find Pratt guilty of first- or third-degree murder but returned the involuntary manslaughter verdict. The jury also found Pratt guilty of child endangerment. Sentencing will take place in September.
