News

Actions

Kentwood toddler killed by morphine, autopsy shows

Posted at 7:56 PM, Dec 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-12-10 22:32:23-05

KENTWOOD, Mich. -- Autopsy results show that a 17-month-old girl found dead in April died from morphine toxicity.

According to court documents, both of Ja'Ziah Mai'Lia Beeks' parents deny giving their child the morphine.

Officials say her mother had a prescription for morphine sulfide tablets, and she told investigators that when the father arrived the night of April 4 she left to go to a TGI Friday's.

She arrived back at about midnight, and then at roughly 1 a.m. April 5 Beeks' father left, according to court documents.   Investigators say he denied knowing the tablets were in the house.

Police were dispatched to Castle Bluff Apartments April 5 and found the infant unresponsive.  She was pronounced dead at a Grand Rapids hospital shortly after.

Following the medical examiner's discovery of morphine in Beeks' system, police executed a search warrant April 29 and located the prescription.

Her death has been ruled a homicide, but neither of her parents have been charged.