Fentanyl Overdose and Death Investigation: The Beautiful Giles Case Study (REPEAT)

This case study will detail the investigation of a one-year-old girl named Beautiful Giles who died due to a Fentanyl overdose. The parents did not seek professional medical treatment when she overdosed, rather they went to a friend's home in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain NARCAN. The parents kept the body for several days before discarding it and fleeing the state. They were arrested three weeks later in another state and eventually pled guilty. These overdose cases are increasing in numbers while the ability to successfully prosecute them proves difficult. In this case study the presenters will discuss issues that arise in similar child death investigations. This includes, but is not limited, the utilization of DCF (child services), interviews and follow-up interviews with relatives, witnesses and others named during the investigation, building a rapport with family members, cellular location records, surveillance, multi-jurisdictional cooperation, and the willingness to travel if necessary. The presenters will also discuss other fatal and non-fatal child overdose investigations and their related legal consequences.