CHICO, Calif. — A mother in Chico is facing child abuse charges after her baby died of a fentanyl overdose last year.
The Chico Police Department said Wednesday that Christy Scarbrough was arrested May 30, 2024, on suspicion of child abuse with great bodily injury or death among other charges.
On Jul 6, 2023, Scarbrough took her one-year-old baby to Enloe Medical Center where they were declared dead.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office along with the Chico Police Department began investigating the death. Officers went to Scarbrough's home where they found fentanyl drug paraphernalia near where the baby slept. This could include equipment and materials of any kind that are intended for use or designed for use in storing, testing, ingesting and more, according to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Officers determined the baby died due to acute fentanyl intoxication. The Chico Police Department said officers found evidence Scarbrough had been using fentanyl before and after the baby died.
She was taken to Butte County Jail.
Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to about 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Fentanyl is so dangerous because its potency is 50x to 100x stronger than morphine, according to the CDC. Find more facts about fentanyl HERE.
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