A Phoenix mother is now facing negligent homicide charges after her one-year-old son died from a possible drug exposure.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers responded to an injured person call at an apartment near 32nd Place and Van Buren Street just before 7:30 am. When officers arrived, they found a toddler, later identified as one-year-old Jody Jackson, unconscious inside an apartment. The fire department responded and provided medical aid; however, little Jody died on scene.
There was another child in the apartment who was unharmed.
Homicide detectives spoke to Tate, who confirmed she was the caretaker for Jackson, and her other child, leading up to his death. Tate admitting to using drugs the night before and believed Jody might have gained access to the container with drugs and ingested a pill.
Tate was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on one count of Negligent Homicide and two counts of Child Abuse. The investigation remains active as detectives await the findings of the post-mortem exam.