A 42-year-old Minneapolis grandmother is accused in the overdose death of her 2-year-old grandchild. A warrant is out for her arrest, and she faces a second-degree manslaughter charge. The KARE 11 news story is linked here.
This case reflects a tragic pattern documented in our most recent fatalities report: Fentanyl exposure and ingestion accounted for 20% of child maltreatment fatalities in Minnesota — a figure that, while lower than the 43% recorded in our previous report, remains alarming and sad.
Cases like this one also carry new legal weight. Minnesota Statute § 152.137 has long made it a felony to knowingly cause or permit a child to be exposed to methamphetamine. In 2025, the Legislature amended this statute to explicitly include fentanyl, reflecting a growing recognition that exposing children to this drug is not merely neglect, but serious criminal conduct.
To learn more about our fatalities report visit our website.