Fremont Mother Sentenced In Toddler's Fentanyl Overdose Death

FREMONT, CA — A Fremont mother was sentenced to seven years in state prison following the fentanyl overdose death of her 23-month-old son, according to the Bay Area News Group. The Alameda County Superior Court handed down the sentence after Sophia Gastelum-Vera, 27, pleaded no contest to child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter. The toddler, who died in August 2022, ingested fentanyl while in the mother’s care.

The prosecution emphasized the mother’s negligence, highlighting the presence of fentanyl in the household. During the trial, the defense argued the mother’s addiction struggles but acknowledged the tragic consequences.

The judge noted the case as a devastating example of the broader opioid crisis and its toll on families.

Read more in the Mercury News.