Woman charged in 2-year-old's drug overdose death in Des Moines
08/14/2019 3:21 pm PDT
By Kelly Maricle, WHO
DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO) -- A Waterloo woman is in the Polk County Jail charged with child endangerment resulting in death after her boyfriend's 2-year-old son died in her care in Des Moines in June.
The Des Moines Police Department says 38-year-old Amanda Leonard-Hellum was arrested Tuesday in Waterloo and transported back to Polk County. She had been in the final stages of adopting the child at the time of his death.
Police say she was caring for two children on June 26 when she drove them from Waterloo to Des Moines. During the drive, Leonard-Hellum discovered the 2-year-old male had ingested some pills that had been prescribed to her.
Police say instead of seeking medical attention she chose to monitor the child overnight. The 2-year-old was discovered dead on the morning of June 27 at an apartment on East Douglas Ave.
Toxicology tests show the child died of an overdose from Leonard-Hellum's medication.
MORE: Woman Charged in 2-Year-Old's June Overdose Death in Des Moines - WHO
