Edmonton Mom Charged With Murder After Baby Dies Of Meth Overdose

An Edmonton mother has been charged with murder after her 11-day-old daughter died of lethal dose of methamphetamine

Edmonton Mom Charged With Murder After Baby Dies Of Meth Overdose
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A photo of Michelle Rice and a baby that was uploaded to Facebook on March 21, 2017

Edmonton Mom Charged With Murder After Baby Dies Of Meth Overdose

A 31-year-old woman from Edmonton, Alberta has been charged with second-degree murder after her 11-day-old daughter died from a methamphetamine overdose.

According to police, officers responded to a report of a baby not breathing at an Edmonton residence on Wednesday, March 29. The baby was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Police were notified on April 6 after an autopsy and toxicology tests confirmed the girl died from a lethal dose of methamphetamine.

Michelle Rice was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree murder.

Police spokesman Scott Pattison said it's not known exactly how the baby ingested the drug, but ruled out breastfeeding.

"From what the medical examiner and our understanding of that level of methamphetamine, it couldn't have been administered in that lethal dose through a woman's breast milk specifically,'' Pattison said. “The Medical Examiner has stated that there are two ways that the baby could have ingested the methamphetamine; that’s either anally or orally.”

Pattison said Rice also has a young son who is unharmed and staying with his biological father. He added he didn't know if the man was the father of the baby girl as well.

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