Allentown, Pennsylvania – Law enforcement authorities in Lehigh County have pressed charges against the parents of a 22-month-old boy who tragically passed away from fentanyl toxicity over three years ago in Allentown.
Jorge Suarez-Santiago, hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, a resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, now face charges of murder in connection to their son’s death. Warrants have been issued for their arrests.
The incident dates back to April 5, 2021, when authorities responded to a distress call at an Allentown hospital where the toddler, Johansy Suarez-Rivas, was discovered unresponsive. Despite efforts at the hospital, the child was declared deceased shortly after.
Initial findings from the Lehigh County Coroner pointed to fentanyl toxicity as the cause of Johansy’s passing, with a significant level of 16.5 nanograms per millimeter detected in his heart blood. Subsequently, the child’s death was deemed accidental.
Closer scrutiny during the investigation revealed that the parents, Suarez-Santiago and Rivas-Rodriguez, were involved in heroin use leading up to their son’s demise. According to reports, Suarez-Santiago was under the influence of heroin while caring for his son at their residence on North 8th Street in Allentown, as Rivas-Rodriguez reportedly left for an extended period of time.
Rivas-Rodriguez returned home to find her son unresponsive, shedding light on the negligence surrounding the circumstances of the child’s passing. Authorities have emphasized that Johansy’s exposure to a lethal dose of fentanyl was a direct result of his parents’ reckless behavior with illegal substances.
In light of the charges brought against her, Rivas-Rodriguez is being represented by the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office, as per online court records. Meanwhile, there is no legal representation listed for Suarez-Santiago at this time.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of substance abuse and neglect, urging communities to remain vigilant in safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable individuals, especially children.