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Murder charges for parents in fentanyl death of toddler
Two parents were charged with murder for the fentanyl death of their 18-month-old daughter. The girl's father was due in court on Wednesday, but he refused to leave his cell.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A San Jose man and woman were convicted on Friday of murder in the fatal drug overdose of their 19-month-old daughter.
A jury found Derek Rayo, 29, and Kelly Richardson, 31, responsible for the 2023 death of Winter Rayo after leaving the toddler in a room with fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said the child had about 25 times the lethal amount of fentanyl in her blood, as well as additional undigested fentanyl in her stomach.
Winter Rayo is shown in this undated photo. She died in 2023 after being exposed to fentanyl and suffering an overdose.
Rayo and Richardson waited more than 11 hours before calling 911 to report that their daughter had died, according to prosecutors.
Reaction to conviction
What they're saying:
"Fentanyl kills," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "In this case, the powerful opioid was left around this toddler like a loaded gun. The criminal recklessness of these two defendants killed their own child. I thank the jury for giving that child’s tragically short life some meaning."
Winter’s parents were the first in Santa Clara County’s history to be charged and then convicted of murdering their own child by exposure to fentanyl.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Prosecutors said they have also filed murder charges against the dealer accused of supplying the drugs to the couple.
The Source: Santa Clara District Attorney's Office