3 Charged With Murder In Death Of Rhode Island Toddler

PAWTUCKET, RI — Three Rhode Islanders are facing murder charges in the death of a toddler, Pawtucket police said Friday. The child, a two-year-old boy, died in the hospital in December.

Police were called to the Sayles Avenue apartment the evening of Dec. 10, where they found the child unconscious. The home was in "awful condition," police said, with drug paraphernalia scattered around and a lack of "basic furniture."

The child was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His 8-year-old brother also tested positive for fentanyl exposure that night but survived, police said.

A two-month-long investigation including the Department of Children, Youth and Families, the Medical Examiner's Office, the Attorney General and Pawtucket police determined that the child died of fentanyl poisoning, ruling the death a homicide.

The child's mother, 26-year-old Jessaline Andrade, was arrested, along with 33-year-old Yara Chum and 31-year-old Stephano Castro. All three were charged with second-degree murder, and Andrade also with two counts of child cruelty.

Correction: Pawtucket police previously misstated Stephano Castro's name.