Marissa Hornbuckle, 37, of Killeen was indicted on a state jail felony charge of injury to a child by criminal negligence following the death of a 2-year-old child who ingested prescription pills that allegedly had been left unsecured on a nightstand.
On May 29, Heights police were called to a hospital in the city regarding the death of 2-year-old Guinevere Humphreys.
“Upon arriving at the hospital, (an officer) spoke with the on-duty doctor ... who stated that the child’s father had advised that the child had possibly ingested Zofran (an anti-nausea prescription medication),” according to an arrest affidavit. The officer “spoke with (the child’s father and mother) and (the mother’s) fiance, Hornbuckle, and was told that the child had been staying with (the mother) and Hornbuckle that week. Earlier that day, they had called (the father) over to pick up the child and when he arrived at their residence in the 2000 block of Rain Dance Loop at around 4:30 p.m., he found Guinevere to be in what appeared to be a deep sleep and (was) non-responsive to attempts to wake her.”
Hornbuckle and the child’s mother told police “that they found a pill bottle containing Zofran on the nightstand with the lid not fully secure and pills on the floor,” police said. “Hornbuckle also acknowledged that she typically keeps the Zofran and Phenergan (a prescription allergy medication) within reach on her nightstand and that they do not normally have small children over at the residence. Hornbuckle also took responsibility for the cap on the Zofran not being secure as she was the one who had given (the Zofran) to the (child’s mother). Hornbuckle also described having seen Guinevere with some sweet smelling ‘white stuff’ on her mouth earlier in the day but did not think much of it (because) Guinevere is prone to eating toothpaste. Hornbuckle also confirmed being the last person to have contact with Guinevere before (the father) arrived at the residence. (She) described Guinevere being difficult, with her having a ‘(expletive)-you scream’ when she tried to put her down for a nap.”
Hornbuckle showed police the nightstand in the master bedroom that “held multiple pills including Zofran, Phenergan, Lexapro (an anxiety and depression prescription medication) and Naproxen (an over-the-counter pain medicine),” according to the affidavit. “The medical examination concluded that Guinevere died as a result of the toxic effects of Ondansetron (Zofran) and Promethazine (Phenergan). Promethazine is a narcotic that causes drowsiness (and) it should not be given to very young children as it can cause severe breathing problems or death.”
After Killeen baby found dead in crib, parents accused of letting her starve to death
Three people were indicted this week in two unrelated cases after police said that an infant and a child died as a result of negligence.
