An apartment house at 26 Oak St. in Oakland. A woman living in an apartment there called 911 Nov. 2 when her 14-month-old son suffered a medical emergency, Maine State Police said. The child later died at a hospital. Authorities said the woman was arrested after investigators subsequently found fentanyl, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs in the apartment. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
OAKLAND — Police investigating the death of a toddler last week found fentanyl, crack cocaine and other illicit drugs in an Oakland apartment where the child lived with his mother, Maine State Police said Monday.
The mother of the child, 21-year-old Ashley Malloy, called 911 Nov. 2 to report that her 14-month-old, Karson Malloy, was having a medical emergency.
The child was taken to Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville where he was pronounced dead, according to a news release issued by State Police.
Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for the Oak Street apartment where Karson lived with his mother and found more than 5 pounds of fentanyl, more than a pound of crack in addition to methamphetamine and about $2,200 in cash, police said. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $700,000.
Malloy was charged Thursday with aggravated drug trafficking and later released on bond.
Authorities have not indicated how the child died. Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for State Police, said in the release that detectives are working with the state medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of Karson’s death.
Lindsey Chasteen, office administrator for the medical examiner’s office, said by email Monday that further testing must be done and a cause of death may not be determined for six to eight weeks.
Oakland police declined to answer any questions Monday, such as whether officers have been to the apartment before.
Authorities waited nearly a week to inform the public of the child’s death and the drug seizure. Oakland police last week repeatedly declined to discuss the matter following a heavy police presence Tuesday in the area.
State Police detectives responded to the apartment at the request of Oakland police.
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