Death of Peoria toddler who chewed on drug-laced bag ruled a homicide

PEORIA (25News Now) – The Peoria County Coroner has released new information about an infant who died in late July after biting through a drug-laced bag.

A toxicology report found that the cause of death of nine-month-old Kaine Santana H. Wolford was fentanyl poisoning; the manner of death was ruled homicide.

The mother, 19-year-old Zenai Denise Lashayla Wolford, was previously charged with endangering the life or health of a child, a Class 3 felony.

As previously reported, Peoria Police received a call just before 12:30 a.m. on Friday, July 26, reporting that a nine-month-old infant was unresponsive and not breathing.

Wolford took her unresponsive baby to OSF St. Francis Medical Center on Friday, July 26, prosecutors said in court on Monday, July 29.

When police searched Wolford's home, they found a plastic bag containing MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, in the child's bed. The plastic bag looked as if it had been chewed, prosecutors said.

Authorities said Wolford admitted she bought the drugs and kept them in her bra. She believes the bag fell into the crib when she bent down to put the baby to bed.

Police said two more pills were found in the crib. Wolford reportedly said there were many more pills in it when she put them in her bra.

The case remains under investigation by the Peoria Police Department.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how to connect with 25News live news. Here.

Copyright 2024 WEEK. All rights reserved.