Curtis Bay Parents Blame Couch Cushion For Toddler's Death Not Their Fentanyl

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A mother and father from Curtis Bay have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, more than eight months after their infant son overdosed on fentanyl, according to the Maryland Judiciary.

On July 21, shortly before 11 p.m., Anne Arundel Police responded to the Houcks’ home in Curtis Bay. Paramedics took the baby, who was not named in court filings, to an emergency room but attempts to revive him failed, police said. He was 20 months old.

According to charging documents, both parents, Brooke Houck and Nathan Houck, told detectives their family had been watching a movie and didn’t notice until the end that the baby wasn’t breathing.

Before and after their son’s death, they provided a “hypothesis” to detectives that the child “may have accidentally suffocated himself in the cushion of the couch,” police said.

An autopsy later confirmed the boy died from an overdose of fentanyl and other opiate derivatives, according to charging documents. Police said no findings supported the mother’s suffocation theory.

Detectives said Brooke Houck was open about a recent relapse, telling them she didn’t believe there were any drugs in the house “that the children could find.” Police said the Houcks had three other children between the ages of 6 and 8 living with them, as well as dogs and cats.

In the same interview with police, Brooke Houck said her children would bring her a pill if they found one in the house, adding there was a “small chance” that the baby had found an empty drug capsule.

Police described the condition of the house as “deplorable,” with dirty diapers, pet excrement and rotting food covering the furniture. According to charging documents, the infant was wearing dirty and soiled clothing.

Curtis Bay parents charged with manslaughter after infant son’s overdose

Police said Brooke Houck’s 20-month-old son died after overdosing on fentanyl in July. She was charged with his manslaughter Friday.

www.baltimoresun.com

Nathan Houck was sentenced to five years with all but 18 months suspended for child neglect, which he pleaded guilty to in October. He was ordered to complete inpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Curtis Bay father sentenced in toddler’s overdose death

Nathan Houck was sentenced to five years with all but 18 months suspended for child neglect, which he pleaded guilty to in October.

www.capitalgazette.com