Vancouver mom charged in connection to baby's death after autopsy finds fentanyl

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Vancouver mother was arrested Tuesday and faces a manslaughter charge in connection to the death of her baby after an autopsy revealed the 21-month-old tested positive for fentanyl.

According to court documents, the incident happened on March 26, 2024, when the mother, identified in court documents as 38-year-old Katherine Richards, found the baby unresponsive in its crib and called 911.

An autopsy revealed the baby tested positive for fentanyl and naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, which the arresting officer said was “concerning as naloxone was not administered by any first responders,” court documents state.

While the baby tested positive for fentanyl, the Clark County Medical Examiner's office told KOIN 6 News they will publicly release the baby's cause of death at a later time.

Probable cause documents noted a roommate had been staying in the basement of the family's home for a week, where the arresting officer said he found meth and drug paraphernalia that appeared to be recently used.

During the investigation, Richards allegedly told the officer she administered the naloxone and that the roommate was smoking something off of foil the day before the baby’s death, according to court documents. Richards also denied being a fentanyl user; however, the roommate disputed the claim, court documents state.

According to the Vancouver Police Department, the investigation into the baby's death was completed on May 24.

Months later, on Sept. 6, detectives were contacted by a member of Richards' family who had concerns she planned to flee the area before she was charged because another family member bought her a plane ticket.

VPD said they were able to get an arrest warrant, noting she was taken into police custody on Tuesday outside of her home on Z Street.