A Florida woman was arrested and a man is wanted on a warrant after a 20-month-old girl died in December, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.
On Dec. 20, JSO said, police responded to an area hospital, where the toddler died hours after being transported there from East 14th Street.
According to JSO, the medical examiner’s office determined the manner of death was accidental due to acute fentanyl intoxication.
Homicide detectives said one of the suspects was identified as 32-year-old Carlida Miller. The Sheriff’s Office said Miller was arrested Monday on charges of manslaughter and tampering with evidence. As of Thursday, she remained in the Duval County jail on $800,000 bond, according to online jail records.
Detectives said they are still trying to locate 23-year-old Tyeon Ford who has an active warrant for his arrest on charges of manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
According to the arrest report for Miller, on the day the girl died, JSO brought Miller and Ford in for questioning. They both told detectives that the girl had no known health issues, and Ford said more to police, but that was redacted, the report shows. When police searched the home where the child lived, JSO said, it appeared the kitchen area was cleaned up and the shower appeared to have been recently used.
While it is unclear if the child who died belonged to Miller, court records show that in 2018 and 2020, she had been involved in a custody battle and child support case involving two men. It is also unclear if the child belonged to Ford.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact JSO by calling 904-630-0500 or emailing JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. To remain anonymous and potentially receive a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).
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