Allentown, Pennsylvania – Lehigh County authorities have recently pressed charges against the parents of a 22-month-old boy following the child’s tragic death from fentanyl toxicity over three years ago. Jorge Suarez-Santiago, 32, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, 35, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, are facing murder charges in connection to the incident. Arrest warrants have been issued for both individuals.
The heartbreaking event unfolded on April 5, 2021, when emergency services were summoned to an Allentown hospital after reports came in that the toddler, named Johansy Suarez-Rivas, was unresponsive. Tragically, the young boy was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the medical facility.
Initially deemed accidental by the Lehigh County Coroner, further investigation revealed disturbing details about the circumstances leading to Johansy’s death. Authorities disclosed that his parents, Suarez-Santiago and Rivas-Rodriguez, had ingested heroin in the hours leading up to their son’s passing.
During the inquiry, it came to light that Johansy had been left in the care of Suarez-Santiago while Rivas-Rodriguez was absent from their residence. Despite being visibly intoxicated, Suarez-Santiago was responsible for their son. Allegedly, Rivas-Rodriguez had supplied heroin to Suarez-Santiago before departing the apartment for several hours.
Upon returning home, Rivas-Rodriguez found Johansy unresponsive. Investigators concluded that the child had been exposed to and consumed a lethal amount of fentanyl while under the care of his parents. The District Attorney’s Office of Lehigh County remarked that the couple “consciously disregarded the high risk” associated with their illicit drug use, which ultimately led to the tragic outcome.
Rivas-Rodriguez has legal representation through the Lehigh County Public Defenders Office, as indicated by online records. However, no attorney is listed for Suarez-Santiago at this time. The gravity of the charges against the parents underscores the devastating consequences of drug use within the family unit.