An Austell woman has been charged with murder in the death of her 2-year-old son, who investigators say died of codeine overdose in November.
Erica White, 42, of Austell, is being held in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, Cobb police said Friday night. She is charged with murder, aggravated battery and false statements.
Channel 2 Action News reported that the tragedy involving the child began in October 2012, when the then 8-week-old was severely injured by his father.
Joseph Rucker McFall was sentenced in April 2014 to 30 years, including 20 in prison, for beating the infant, who was left blind, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office previously said. He pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated battery that left the boy with lifelong injuries.
Neighbors told Channel 2 that White took the boy, named Tyrael, to rehab often and he had seizures.
White is accused of giving the toddler a lethal amount of codeine, a prescribed pain relief narcotic, according to the warrant. She denied ever possessing codeine, but an investigation discovered that she filled a prescription for Tylenol 3 with codeine days before the 2-year-old’s death on Wellington Way, the warrant states.
An autopsy showed high levels of the drug in the child’s body.
The investigation is continuing.
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