GUILTY AZ - Patrick Smith, 18 mos, dies of methadone OD, Oro Valley, 5 Feb 2012

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/17125312/neighbors-react-to-ov-mom-charged-with-murder
Neighbors react to OV mom charged with murder

March 10/2012

Oro Valley mother, Donna Smith, is behind bars accused of killing her 18 month old son, Patrick Michael Smith.

She is being held on $75,000 bond after making her first court appearance Friday night.

Oro Valley Police arrested Smith Friday morning at her home near Moore and La Canada. "We basically woke her up and took her right into custody," says Oro Valley Police Lieutenant Kara Riley.

This came after medical examiners found a lethal dose of methadone in the toddler.

"Its our goal to be the voice of the victim in this case," continued Lt. Riley.
The helpless baby boy was found unresponsive at the home back in February."We all worked together to do the best we could to save the child's life, " recalls Lt. Riley.

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In all seriousness, I will take these innocent children. If these parents want to take drugs, party, go to the clubs, have relations with every Tom, Dick and Harry they meet, then they aren't ready for the responsibility of parenthood. There are so many childless couples out there who are ready and willing to take GOOD care of these children. ( I was blessed with 2 beautiful daughters).
Perhaps we need a little more INTRUSION into the lives of parents before they go home with a baby from the hospital. Maybe a nurse can alert the social worker if things seem a little odd, let the social worker or the pediatrician ask some pertinent questions, and maybe if some red flags go off, give them an instruction book...lead them to parenting classes, give them an 800 number to call if they are frustrated or scared, or having crazy thoughts. If daddy is acting wacky, mom can call someone and leave, with the baby, for a few days. Get counseling for these mommies who seem to be caught up with "bad boys ". The child should NEVER be at risk.
There HAS to be a way to identify these troubled people BEFORE they bring a baby into the already dysfunctional home.:banghead:

MethADONE?

So was she trying to get OFF drugs?
Or was she taking them for another reason?

He could have actually gotten into them himself, or she could have given them to him.
I wonder which they think it was? Did they find Methadone in a bottle or sippy cup or something?

MsFacetious said:

MethADONE?

So was she trying to get OFF drugs?
Or was she taking them for another reason?

He could have actually gotten into them himself, or she could have given them to him.
I wonder which they think it was? Did they find Methadone in a bottle or sippy cup or something?

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According to the reports it appears she purposely and willfully gave this absolutely beautiful child a lethal dose of methadone.

If she had the methadone at home she may have been trying to detox herself. That or she was using for pain? Either way it wouldn't make sense she'd give it to her baby save for making him be quiet.

If she was on a program she'd have to go to clinic each day. They don't usually give take homes.

Many people do well on methadone maintenance and live well rounded lives. Then ya have the other part of all the people sucking off the system, and running scams and the like. Methadone clinics aren't the brightest of places to be that's for sure.

So in this murdering mother's case my guess is she bought the 'done off the street. How sad as this is the most adorable little guy.

FWIW people even use "spit cups" at some methadone clinics. Sorry but it's a painful reality. They get dosed and hold it in their mouths and go outside and spit it in a cup for someone else for money.

A very fine job LE did here.


http://www.kvoa.com/news/oro-valley-infant-dies-from-methadone-mother-charged-with-murder/

Okay, so they believe it was premeditated first degree murder. I wonder what leads them to believe that?
If they thought she gave it to him to make him quiet and accidentally gave him too much, that would be second degree murder, lacking premeditation and intent.

So can we get the title changed to say Methadone, now that it's clear that is what it was?

From August 2014:

http://tucson.com/news/blogs/police...cle_c8db9f72-e438-54d7-a9dc-03d5147a7621.html

A woman whose toddler died after taking a fatal dose of a powerful drug was sentenced Monday to 10½ years in prison.

Donna Rose Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with her 18-month-old son Patrick’s death in February 2012...

Smith told police she had spilled her methadone the day before her son died but was uncertain if the boy came into contact with the drug... Schmidt said the area of the carpet where Smith said she spilled the methadone was tested but no trace of the drug was found. Traces of methadone were found in a child’s Tylenol dispenser.

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