Child, 12, Dies Of Heroin Overdose, Mother Arrested By Joliet Police

JOLIET — The Joliet Police Department has arrested 35-year-old Colette Bancroft in connection with Wednesday's death of her 12-year-old daughter from a heroin overdose. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the Joliet child as Mya King, of the 1500 block of Washington Street.

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English at around 8:24 a.m. Sunday, Joliet police went to the house in the 1500 block of East Washington Street for an unresponsive juvenile. Officers found the 12-year-old girl in the bedroom on the second floor.

Officers immediately provided medical assistance, including CPR and the deployment of Narcan, until the arrival of Joliet Fire Department paramedics.

It is believed that the 12-year-old victim ingested an unknown amount of suspected heroin and fentanyl, English said.

The victim was originally discovered to be unresponsive by her mother, Bancroft, and others in the home called 911. Officers learned that Bancroft and her daughter share the bedroom where the victim was found. The Joliet police recovered suspected heroin and fentanyl from Bancroft’s purse in the bedroom, and she was placed into custody without incident.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was notified about the incident at this time.

The 12-year-old victim was rushed to Silver Cross Hospital by the Joliet Fire Department. Shortly thereafter, she was transferred to Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where she died shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to police.

This case remains under active investigation as detectives and evidence technicians continue to process information and evidence pertinent to this case, English said.

As for Bancroft, she was released from the Joliet police custody on a Notice to Appear on charges of possession of a controlled substance, English indicated.