An Oregon mother is headed to prison for nearly six years after her 22-month-old son died from acute fentanyl intoxication, a tragedy prosecutors say resulted from her being in too much of "a rush" to clean up after smoking the drug. Kelsey Haws, 33, was sentenced this week following her guilty plea to criminally negligent homicide, criminal mistreatment, and attempted assault in connection with the June 2023 death of her son, Anthony, in Portland.
Background
The incident occurred while Anthony was being watched by his grandmother at their Portland apartment. Haws had been using a plastic "tooter" straw to smoke fentanyl, a common paraphernalia item among users who scrape the inside to retrieve residue. According to an affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the toddler found the straw, which had been left in a drawer that Anthony knocked over. The grandmother noticed the child was unresponsive and called 911. Paramedics administered Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, to reverse the overdose, but Anthony was transported to the hospital and died two days later, just short of his second birthday.
The Investigation
Investigators discovered the fentanyl-laced straw inside the drawer, positioned next to a doodle created by one of Anthony's seven-year-old siblings. The item tested positive for traces of fentanyl. Police also found four fentanyl pills inside a lockbox marked "Loko 4 Ever" that was typically kept in the apartment. Haws told police she had knocked over the drawer but was "in a rush and did not look closely when cleaning." Neighbors reported to police that Haws' children were often left unsupervised. Haws, who worked full-time at a sportswear store at the time of the incident, had two other children. Anthony's father was incarcerated at the time of the death and remains in prison.
The Charges
Haws pleaded guilty to three counts: criminally negligent homicide, criminal mistreatment, and attempted assault. An autopsy determined that Anthony died from "acute fentanyl intoxication." During her sentencing on Tuesday, Haws addressed the court, acknowledging her failure as a mother. "I was supposed to protect him, and I failed," Haws said, according to local Fox affiliate KPTV. "I know it is because of my selfishness and addiction that [my son] will never grow up, have a first job, girlfriend or just the little life he deserved."
Key Takeaways
- Kelsey Haws, 33, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for criminally negligent homicide, with concurrent sentences for criminal mistreatment and attempted assault.
- The victim, Anthony, was 22 months old and died two days after ingesting fentanyl residue from a "tooter" straw found in a drawer.
- Haws claimed she was in "a rush" and did not look closely when cleaning after the drawer was knocked over.
- Police found additional fentanyl pills in a lockbox in the apartment and noted neighbors reported unsupervised children.
- Haws expressed regret in court, stating she is choosing to live "clean and sober."
What's Next
Haws will serve her 70-month sentence in the Oregon Department of Corrections. As she enters the prison system, her focus shifts to maintaining the sobriety she promised the court. While her guilty plea limits typical avenues for appeal, the case remains a stark reminder of the lethal risks fentanyl poses to households with young children. Attention now turns to the well-being of Haws' two surviving children, who will navigate life without their younger brother, and the ongoing efforts by Portland authorities to address fentanyl exposure in domestic settings.