The cause of death has been revealed for the 8-year-old Kentucky boy who tragically passed away after consuming strawberries at a school fundraiser last month.
According to the Hopkin’s County Coroner’s Office, the boy’s death was attributed to fentanyl intoxication, rather than consuming the strawberries. It is important to note that the exact cause of death remains undetermined.
The Madisonville Police Department received a call about an unresponsive child at around 6:30 a.m. on March 15th, according to reports.
According to a report by 14 News, a young child consumed multiple strawberries at a school fundraiser on March 14. Shortly after, the child started experiencing an allergic reaction and developed a rash. Concerned, the family rushed the child to the emergency room, but they were eventually discharged and returned home. The following morning, however, the family discovered that the child was unresponsive and not breathing.
The boy’s stepfather was arrested after his death
The authorities arrested Antonio Person, the boy’s stepfather, nearly two weeks after the tragic incident that led to the boy’s death on March 26. Person is currently being held at Hopkin’s County Jail, where he faces multiple charges, including:
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- Possession of marijuana
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon
- Trafficking of fentanyl
- Two out-of-county warrants
- Contempt of court liable, slander, resistance to order
- Second-degree manslaughter
Strawberries at fundraiser were tested, found to not be harmful
The Hopkins County Health Department released a statement on Tuesday, April 9, providing the findings of the strawberry samples distributed during the school’s fundraiser.
According to the health department, the results from the Food and Drug Administration and the Kentucky State Lab showed no traces of any harmful substances.
Public Health Director Denise Beach stated that there is no longer a caution regarding the strawberries if they were frozen correctly.
Beach mentioned that the companies involved in the investigation were extremely cooperative and provided valuable assistance.
According to Beach, a total of 443 flats were distributed by North and 535 flats were distributed by Central. The distribution of these strawberries was carried out by Juicy Fruit LLC, Southern Grown, and Sizemore Farms. Beach expressed gratitude for their commitment to public safety and mentioned that they were contacted by their Safety Director, who provided valuable assistance and support.
