A Long Island father has been indicted for assault and other charges after his 11-month-old son nearly died from a fentanyl overdose earlier this year. The father’s alleged drug dealer, Robert Mauro, is also facing manslaughter charges after the same batch of drugs caused the death of an adult woman. The Suffolk County District Attorney revealed the details of the case.
On January 13, first responders were called to the family’s home in Lake Grove, where they found the infant unresponsive, with blue skin and rolled-back eyes. The child’s mother reported that he had been having trouble breathing for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. She stated that the baby was fine after she gave him his bottle earlier that morning. The mother left the child with his father on the couch while she went back to sleep upstairs. The father later discovered that the baby’s body had gone limp.
Paramedics from the Suffolk police and Ronkonkoma fire department provided immediate medical attention to the child, administering oxygen and transferring him to an ambulance. During the journey to Stony Brook University Hospital, the baby stopped breathing and remained unresponsive for about 40 minutes. The ambulance made a stop to pick up a member of the Suffolk Police’s Medical Crisis Action Team (MEDCAT) for further assistance.
Suspecting an overdose, the MEDCAT officer administered Narcan to the infant, resulting in the child taking his first breath and crying. At the hospital, the baby was diagnosed with acute fentanyl poisoning, hypoxia, and respiratory failure. He received additional doses of Narcan before being placed on a Narcan drip in the pediatric ICU to prevent further respiratory failure.
During the investigation, authorities discovered drug-related items in the family’s home, including a straw containing cocaine, 4-ANPP, heroin, and fentanyl residue, a digital scale with cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl residue, and a plastic bag with cocaine residue.
The baby’s father, whose identity has been withheld to protect the child, was arrested on the same day and released without bail due to the nature of the charges. District Attorney Raymond Tierney expressed his dismay, stating, “It is heartbreaking to see a defenseless and innocent child become yet another casualty of a deadly illegal drug. What is more outrageous is that the child’s father is alleged to have placed his own son in close proximity to such poison.”
Further investigation revealed text messages between the father and Robert Mauro, discussing a drug deal. Mauro allegedly sold drugs to the father four days before the infant ingested the fentanyl. Tragically, Mauro also sold the same batch of narcotics to a 31-year-old woman in Patchogue, who fatally overdosed on January 29. The woman’s phone records confirmed her purchase from Mauro, and an autopsy revealed a mixed drug intoxication, including fentanyl, in her system.
During a search of Mauro’s home, investigators recovered a digital scale, fentanyl/4-ANPP, suboxone pills, and his phone, which contained incriminating texts with the deceased woman. Mauro now faces multiple charges, including second-degree manslaughter, criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia.
2 Responses
This situation is like a ticking time bomb hidden in a seemingly harmless toy. Just as the father’s actions unknowingly put his child’s life at risk, the presence of fentanyl, a potent drug, can be dangerously deceptive.
This news highlights the devastating consequences of drug abuse and the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. It serves as a reminder that drug addiction can affect anyone, even parents, and can have severe consequences for innocent children. This case underscores the need for education and prevention programs to help individuals struggling with addiction and to protect vulnerable individuals, such as children, from the harmful effects of drugs. It also emphasizes the importance of early intervention and support for those who may be at risk of substance abuse.