Dad gets life after cocaine kills infant

twgburst

twgburst

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http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/06/19/Dad_gets_life_after_cocaine_kills_infant/UPI-54441213914947/
HOUSTON, June 19 (UPI) -- A Texas father who let his teething son suck on his fingers when they had cocaine on them was given a life jail sentence for the baby's death, officials said.

Dennis Ray Driver, 26, of Houston, was sentenced Wednesday after he was found guilty of felony murder for the cocaine overdose death of his 8-month-old son, the Houston Chronicle reported. He was also ordered to pay $10,000, officials said.

Driver, who has been convicted of cocaine possession in the past, claimed the baby sucked on his fingers after he'd been handling the drug, prosecutor Murray Newman said.

The felony murder charge said Driver took part in behaviors that led to his son's death.

Driver told officials he was sleeping Dec. 28 with his son propped on top of him before he realized the baby wasn't breathing. Officials said the child died the next day at the hospital.

Newman said he does not think Driver intentionally gave the child drugs.
 
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The alleged sequence of these events makes no sense at all.
 
^^^^ You might accept that explanation, I don't.

The point being, research monkeys weighing much less than an 8-month-old infant are given much more coke in experimental studies than what would stick to a man's fingers.

Either there was:

1. A rare, idiosyncratic allergic reaction, or

2. The infant was administered cocaine via another method.

I for one would like to see the toxicology report and the coroner's report on the official cause of death. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
 
Oh boy would some people be angry if it was SIDS and the dad got to go free...
 
tobala said:
^^^^ You might accept that explanation, I don't.

The point being, research monkeys weighing much less than an 8-month-old infant are given much more coke in experimental studies than what would stick to a man's fingers.

Either there was:

1. A rare, idiosyncratic allergic reaction, or

2. The infant was administered cocaine via another method.

I for one would like to see the toxicology report and the coroner's report on the official cause of death. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing when reading the article, it sounds like he used that as an excuse.
 
Probally did a faceplant in a pile, and that was the best excuse the dad could give with out seeming like a complete dumbass for leaving drugs out with an infant. :p
 
tobala said:
^^^^ You might accept that explanation, I don't.

The point being, research monkeys weighing much less than an 8-month-old infant are given much more coke in experimental studies than what would stick to a man's fingers.

Either there was:

1. A rare, idiosyncratic allergic reaction, or

2. The infant was administered cocaine via another method.

I for one would like to see the toxicology report and the coroner's report on the official cause of death. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
Click to expand...

First, research monkeys commonly used for this sort of stuff do not weigh less then an 8 month old. We're talking 15-20lbs. Chimpanzees are commonly used, and rhesus, which are still heavier, but much closer, are used much less often.

Second, human beings are more sensitive on a mg/kg basis than our less learned relatives.

There are cases of the tiny solution being used to numb up noses for nasal surgery resulting in death. That's in adults, not children, mind you.

I did a quick literature search, and this doesn't seem implausible at all.
 
I stand corrected.

I'd still like to see the coroner's report, though.
 
Well absolutely. This definitely seems plausible, but it's certainly not the most likely scenario. Obviously benzyl ecogine and/or cocaine proper were found in the kids system in substantial quantity to make a case, but it'd be interesting to know if the quantities found are consistent with what you might expect to be found on fingers after handling the drug or if (what I admit seems more likely) the kid got a hold of a more substantial quantity, either through parental inattention or abuse.
 
the father may have been the drug user, but this sounds like an accident to me, if you do accept the DA's story that the oral ingestion of trace amounts of coke can lead to an overdose. he may have been negligent, but a life sentence is extremely harsh for that.
 
^^^^ When babies die, drug warriors will fight rabidly to establish a connection with illicit substances. What could be better propaganda for their cause?

That's why I always cast a skeptical eye on the "official account" of such events. Not too many people, even incorrigible drug users, want to see a baby die, especially their own.

Good God, this poor man has to live the rest of his life knowing that--even in an indirect way--he caused the death of his son. That's punishment enough for me.
 
Hot Dog Of Doom said:
Probally did a faceplant in a pile, and that was the best excuse the dad could give with out seeming like a complete dumbass for leaving drugs out with an infant. :p
Click to expand...

my kitten did that once, i freaked out & watched him like a hawk all night to make sure he didn't die, the poor thing... he kept sticking his tongue out and drank a shitload of water... he was fine though.
 
Well if the baby was teething...maybe he thought cocaine on the baby's gums would be wonderful idea...and make it stop crying.
 
If it had been a non-drug user (except for alcohol and tobacco, of course 8) ) and the father had mistakenly given the baby an overdose of Infant Tylenol which led to his death, I doubt he would even get any prison time at all.

But I agree with tobala, something sounds fishy about these facts.
 
I know this isn't the most important issue here, but what the hell was the $10,000 for? He got a life sentence, for fuck's sake. Money has nothing to do with it--although I suppose money has everything to do with everything in the U.S....well, the world.
 
Ugh! He must feel terrible. He deserves manslaughter at most though. It was accidental. All my friends think I'm insane always washing my hands after doing coke before playing with my animals and stuff but I just don't want to risk it! A minuscule amount of powder may not hurt us, but it sure as hell might hurt them! Better to err on the side of caution.

P.S. A 'life' sentence is usually only about 20-25 years from what I hear. And screw you guys who leave drugs out for your animals/children to consume. That just shows you got no business doing drugs in the first place. If you can't be responsible with your shit, don't do it.
 
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