Parents of SF 2-year-old who overdosed on fentanyl charged with murder, DA says

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Wednesday announced murder charges against the parents of a 2-year-old who died from a fentanyl overdose last November.

According to DA Jenkins, the medical examiner’s report and the evidence they found inside the apartment where the incident took place were strong.

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They found Narcan and fentanyl throughout the area where the child was located.

“This is the first homicide case that we have filed in connection with a fatal overdose due to fentanyl,” said DA Jenkins.

According to court documents, when paramedics arrived, the child was not breathing and her body was stiff with purple-red discoloration, “indicating the child had been dead for several hours.”

On the bed, officers found Narcan and a “white powder later identified as fentanyl” as well as “used pipes and torches.”

The toxicology analysis revealed “lethal levels of fentanyl as well as Narcan in the toddler’s bloodstream.”

The DA used this evidence to increase charges against the child’s mother and father from child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance to murder.

“Fentanyl found in this home that was loosely out and available to this toddler. It was clear to me that these parents were aware of its lethality and the danger of fentanyl, and where I believe that it was appropriate to file charges,” said DA Jenkins.

The National Harm Reduction Coalition views this as an overcharge.

“Bringing homicide charges is a travesty. It will not only not bring back that toddler, that baby, but also will devastate the lives of their parents. My understanding is they did everything they could to save the baby,” said Laura Guzman, executive director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition.

The ABC7 Eyewitness News data team found that San Francisco officials have reported two overdose deaths of children under the age of 14 in the first two months of 2026.

In 2025 there were 625 overdoses.

Cedric Akbar, executive director of the nonprofit Positive Directions Equals Change, which focuses on providing recovery services in the city, is concerned the latest budget cuts will lead to more overdoses.

“That means it’s going to be less treatment beds available. There’s going to be less services available to get the people the help they need now. No way that we’re going to be opening up this reset center. And it’s supposed to open in maybe like the first week of May, and hopefully that will help,” said Akbar. “One thing I am glad to see that finally somebody is starting to prosecute.”

In the past, DA Jenkins has not been successful in sentencing drug dealers for fatal overdoses.

In this case, she said the evidence points to the couple inside the home as the parties responsible. The parents are expected to be in court Thursday April 16 at 9 a.m.