A 37-year-old woman is in custody after the death of a toddler from a suspected overdose in Phoenix on Monday.
Phoenix police say officers were called to an apartment near 32nd and Van Buren streets just before 7:30 a.m.
Inside the apartment, police found an unconscious 1-year-old boy.
RELATED: Poisoned: Arizona’s fentanyl crisis
Phoenix fire officials performed life-saving measures but the toddler was pronounced dead on scene.
Police say Natalie Tate, the toddler's mother, confirmed she was the caretaker of the boy leading to his death. Another child was found unharmed.
Tate admitted to using drugs, described as fentanyl, the night before and believed the young boy might have gained access to a container with pills and ingested one.
According to court documents, Tate has a history of drug abuse documented by the Department of Child Safety. Some of the history includes having marijuana and Percocets in her bloodstream a day after giving birth.
Tate faces one count of negligent homicide and two counts of child abuse.
Tara Sundem, the executive director of of Hushabye Nursery, a recovery center for pregnant and parenting families that struggle with opioid addiction, says the situation that unfolded is ‘tragic,’, and that it is difficult for those who are using drugs to use their brains correctly.
“It’s really scary. Opiate use disorder is a chronic illness, and it’s a brain disease and everyone needs help sometimes. Reach out, we’ll do what we can,” Sundem said.
Sundem has seen an increase in babies and parents coming in to ask for help. They hit a sobering milestone of helping 700 babies this January since they opened in 2020.
Data from the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center shows an increase from seven fentanyl exposures reported in 2017 to 113 reported in 2022. However, in 2023, the number decreased to 70.
UMOM, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency shelter and supportive services to homeless families, confirmed Tate was living on their campus.
UMOM shared the statement below:
“While UMOM cannot provide comment on the direct incident as it is an active investigation and we do not divulge client information without express consent, we can confirm that an arrest was made on campus yesterday and UMOM is cooperating with the authorities on the investigation.
With regard to our policies and procedures, UMOM is low-barrier shelter with strict safety rules and regulations, and clear guidelines of what is – and is not -- allowed on campus.. We conduct room checks at random or with plausible cause and check belongings when residents check in.
As an organization, UMOM is focused first on providing emergency shelter to women and families in need. Once housed here at our campus, each resident is assigned a case manager to assess what barriers to self-sufficiency exist and provide clients with the programming and resources necessary to take those steps to secure permanent housing, a steady job and wellness services.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
