Long Island Couple Indicted For Manslaughter In Toddler's Drug Overdose: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Holbrook couple has been indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with the fatal overdose from a heroin and fentanyl-laced drug cocktail of their 14-month-old toddler, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Monday.

On the morning of Jan. 3, 2024, Suffolk police responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child at the home of Wilkens Adonis and Darylee Leibrock, both 38, prosecutors said, adding, that when they arrived, officers found Wilken Adonic and Leibrock, and their unresponsive toddler, Joseph Adonis, in the couple’s bedroom, the DA said.

The toddler was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

Investigators found drugs and unsecured guns, as well as recovered DNA swabs from several packages of drugs found within the room, one of which had Joseph Adonis’ DNA on it, according to prosecutors.

At the time, Leibrock was subject to family court orders of protection that prohibited her from being around both children, as well as from possessing illegal drugs that created an unreasonable risk to the health, safety, or welfare to either child, according to prosecutors.

Adonis and Leibrock were arrested on possession of drugs and weapons charges, which at the time, were the highest charges that could have possibly been charged, and all of which were non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning that prosecutors could not ask for bail, nor could a judge set bail, prosecutors said.

The defendants were indicted and arraigned on the indictment, but no bail could be
placed on the charges; they were held in custody due to outstanding warrants that each had at the time of their arrest, as well as a contempt charge lodged against Leibrock for violating the orders of protection, according to prosecutors.

A CONTINUING INVESTIGATION

The DA's office has continued to investigate the death of Joseph Adonis, prosecutors said.

After conducting an autopsy, the Medical Examiner’s office concluded his cause of death was acute mixed drug intoxication by a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, prosecutors said, adding that based on the results of the autopsy, the drugs and weapons found in the couple's apartment, and the location of the items, the couple are now alleged to have recklessly caused the death of their son.

Once the results of the autopsy were received by the DA's office, the couple was indicted on the additional charge of second-degree manslaughter in a superseding indictment, and only with that additional manslaughter charge could the DA's office ask for bail in this case, prosecutors said.

MORE DETAILS EMERGE

Additionally, before the death of Joseph Adonis, on Nov. 3, 2022, members of the state police had stopped a vehicle driven by Leibrock in which Wilkens Adonis was a passenger, and inside the vehicle, police saw what appeared to be cocaine, prosecutors said, adding that law enforcement subsequently searched the vehicle, and found cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin, according to prosecutors.

Also, in a purse belonging to Leibrock, investigators found an alprazolam pill, commonly referred to as Xanax, prosecutors said, adding that on Adonis, heroin and cocaine, as well as straws that contained heroin and cocaine residue were found.

The couple was placed under arrest, one day before Joseph Adonis was born, prosecutors said.

The crimes from this incident were also non-bail eligible under current state law, and at the
time of Joseph Adonis’ death, the couple each had warrants for failure to appear in
First District Court in Central Islip on the November 2022 charges, according to prosecutors.

Adonis and Leibrock have been indicted on one count of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

They have been additionally indicted on six counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of first-degree failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms. Adonis has been indicted on one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Leibrock has been indicted in four counts of second-degree criminal contempt and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

“Fourteen-month-old Joseph Adonis died from an overdose due to ingesting a cocktail of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl,” Tierney said. “How many more innocent children must die for change to be enacted? It is well past the time for New York State legislators to wake up, put politics aside, and pass common-sense legislation related to fentanyl.”

In a statement, County Executive Ed Romaine called Joseph Adonis "an innocent child who has been added to the ever-growing list of the victims of the fentanyl epidemic that continues to destroy families and communities."

"It is unthinkable that a toddler could be exposed to such dangerous, illegal drugs in the home, but it is now a reality," he said.

"I applaud the work of District Attorney Tierney, his office and the Suffolk County Police Department that lead to this indictment and hopefully a lengthy prison sentence for those responsible for this selfish, heinous crime.”

Adonis and Leibrack are each being held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.

Both defendants are due back in court on May 14.

Adonis' defense attorney, Matthew Tuohy of Huntington, said his client is "maintaining his innocence and it's his position that the mother is responsible for the child's death."

Leibrock's attorney, Steve Fondulis of Port Jefferson, could not be reached for comment.