Carolyn Scott, left, is facing a murder charge after her 3-year-old daughter Riley Scott died of a fentanyl and meth overdose at their Jackson, South Carolina, home, according to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office. (Carolyn Scott: Aiken County Jail; Riley Scott: Obituary)
A mother is facing a murder charge after her 3-year-old daughter died of acute mixed drug intoxication of fentanyl and meth, according to South Carolina authorities.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office on Monday arrested 26-year-old Carolyn Scott on charges of murder/homicide by child abuse and two counts of unlawful child neglect, jail records show. If convicted, she faces between 20 years and life in prison. Her daughter Riley Scott died on Sept. 10.
Local affiliate WRDW, citing an arrest affidavit, reported an autopsy revealed deputies began CPR on Riley when they arrived at the home in Jackson. Paramedics rushed her to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, where doctors declared her dead.
Scott reportedly told deputies that Riley had been down for a nap for about two hours when one of her other children tried to wake her up to no avail. She went to check on Riley and saw vomit on the bed and noticed the girl was blue in the face. Scott called her mother, who then called 911.
Investigators discovered Riley’s body temperature was just 86 degrees when found. They believe Scott waited more than an hour before seeking help for Riley, the affidavit reportedly said.
Cops found uncapped syringes, foil, and drugs in the home, and the sheets and other items tested positive for fentanyl and meth. A coroner determined the cause of death was drug intoxication of fentanyl and meth. The autopsy also revealed that Narcan, the drug that can reverse a drug overdose, was in the girl’s blood and likely administered while she was still alive, according to the affidavit.
Scott claimed she did not know what Riley could have gotten into.
Riley had turned 3 less than a month before death, according to her obituary.
“She was a lively, popular fixture with the Kids Co. and had just been promoted from the Toddlers class to the Preschool class,” the obit said. “Her daddy could bring out the loudest laughter in her when they played together, and her mother walking in a room brightened the sparkle in her eyes. Her favorite earthly activities included chicken nugget Happy Meals, unicorns, petting cows, feeding chickens, watching Paw Patrol, CoCoMelon, PJ Masks and other invigorating entertainment with her surviving big brothers.”
Scott is at the Aiken County Jail without bond.
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