In Reading, Pennsylvania, Joksue and Vyankia Chaparro have been charged with involuntary manslaughter following the methadone overdose death of their four-year-old child. The child was found in cardiac arrest on April 24, 2024, and later died at Reading Hospital. The Berks County District Attorney's office revealed that the child ingested methadone from a sippy cup given to him at bedtime to help him sleep.
According to WFMZ, the parents initially denied having illicit drugs in their home. However, Vyankia tested positive for fentanyl, and Joksue admitted to receiving methadone from a clinic. He stored the drug in an unsecured container in their bedroom.
The Berks County District Attorney, John Adams, stated that the timeline of the child's ingestion of methadone aligns with the effects of the drug. "There are questions we may never know the answer to, but what we do know is this child did not get the methadone himself," Adams said. The couple is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 14.
The tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of drug overdose deaths in the United States. According to CDC data, drug overdose deaths remain a significant public health concern, with opioids like methadone contributing to many fatalities.