A 2-year-old Florida girl died after allegedly ingesting her father's and his ex-girlfriend's Kratom pills, suffering a seizure with her lips turning blue while both adults watched — but neither called 911 or sought medical help before the child's father put her to bed, police said.
Background
Jerome Jordan was at the home of Charlene O'Connell on May 17 with his daughter, Jonnie Jordan. O'Connell is the mother of Jordan's two other children. While inside the residence, Jonnie ingested at least 2 and a half Kratom pills that belonged to both defendants, according to the West Melbourne Police Department.
Police said both adults were aware she had ingested the substance. They witnessed her lips turn blue before she suffered a seizure and began breathing abnormally. Instead of calling emergency services or rushing the child to a hospital, Jordan brought Jonnie to his sister's home in Brevard County and placed her in bed before going to sleep himself, investigators alleged.
By the following morning, May 18, Jonnie was unresponsive. Jordan transported what police described as her "lifeless body" to a hospital, where medical staff pronounced her dead upon arrival.
The Investigation
Hospital staff believed the girl died of an overdose because Jordan repeatedly insisted that medical personnel administer Narcan, according to police. An autopsy conducted by the Brevard County Medical Examiner's Office determined Jonnie died of acute mitragynine intoxication — mitragynine being the primary active ingredient in Kratom.
The West Melbourne Police Department launched its investigation on May 18 following the toddler's death. Detectives developed probable cause that Jordan, 35, and O'Connell, 32, both knew the child had ingested a dangerous substance and failed to obtain emergency medical care despite witnessing her symptoms worsen.
On Wednesday, investigators arrested both defendants. They are being held in the Brevard County Jail without bond on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect with great bodily harm.
Key Takeaways
- Jonnie Jordan, 2, died after ingesting Kratom pills belonging to her father Jerome Jordan and his ex-girlfriend Charlene O'Connell at an address in West Melbourne, Florida
- Both adults allegedly witnessed the toddler's lips turn blue and observed her suffer a seizure before failing to call 911 or seek medical attention
- Instead of emergency care, Jordan placed the child in bed at his sister's residence; she was unresponsive when he woke up the following morning
- Autopsy results confirmed acute mitragynine intoxication as the cause of death
- Both defendants face charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect with great bodily harm
What's Next
Jerome Jordan and Charlene O'Connell remain in custody at the Brevard County Jail without bond. Their next court appearance had not been listed in police records as of the time of this report. The investigation is ongoing, and prosecutors have not indicated whether additional charges may be filed.