Niagara Falls Woman charged after 2-year-old child dies from fentanyl and bromazolam

A Niagara Falls woman is facing charges after a 2-year-old died from a drug overdose.

Last November Niagara Regional Police were called to a family home in Niagara Falls where they found the child without vital signs.

A postmortem determined that the child died due to Fentanyl and Bromazolam toxicity.Yesterday police arrested and charged a 40-year-old woman with failing to provide the necessities of life and

criminal negligence causing death.

She is also facing Possession Fentanyl and Cocaine charges.

Police say they will not be releasing the name or the relationship between the victim and the accused to protect the identity of the child and the next of kin.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009476.In a tragic incident that has shaken the Niagara Falls community, a 40-year-old woman has been charged following the death of a two-year-old child due to fentanyl and bromazolam toxicity. The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to a distress call on November 21, 2023, where they discovered the toddler without vital signs in a family home.

A subsequent post-mortem examination revealed that the child’s death resulted from a combination of fentanyl, a potent opioid, and bromazolam, a benzodiazepine not prescribed in Canada. Bromazolam has been found mixed in the region’s illicit fentanyl supply, and its toxic effects can act synergistically with opioids, leading to severe respiratory suppression.

On November 18, 2024, nearly a year after the incident, NRPS detectives arrested the woman, charging her with:

Possession of fentanyl

Possession of cocaine

Failing to provide the necessaries of life

Criminal negligence causing death

The accused was held in custody for a video bail hearing at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on November 19, 2024. To protect the identity of the deceased child and the next of kin, authorities have withheld the woman’s name.

The NRPS’s Opioid Enforcement and Education Unit (OEEU), funded by the Ontario Government’s Community and Safety Policing Grant, has been instrumental in addressing opioid-related issues within the community. The OEEU focuses on educating the public about the risks associated with illicit opioid use while incorporating enforcement measures.

This incident underscores the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, particularly when potent substances like fentanyl and unregulated benzodiazepines such as bromazolam are involved. The combination of these drugs can be especially lethal, as their synergistic effects significantly increase the risk of fatal respiratory depression.

Community members are urged to remain vigilant and report any information related to this case or similar incidents to the NRPS by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009476. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest.

The tragic loss of such a young life serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illicit drugs and the importance of community efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Authorities continue to work diligently to prevent further tragedies and support affected families within the Niagara Falls community.