A Santa Cruz County mother is facing criminal negligence charges after her 18-month-old baby died from a possible fentanyl overdose.
On July 28, the Santa Cruz Police Department responded to Dominican Dignity Health Hospital for a report of a deceased infant who was brought in by his mother, Korisa Woll, 38, according to a news release.
When officers arrived at the hospital, they met with Woll and observed the deceased baby.
Department investigators who were called immediately learned that the child died while in Woll's care at her residence in Santa Cruz.
The county coroner has taken possession of the deceased girl and the results of a full autopsy are still pending. However, according to the district attorney's office, early autopsy results showed a “presumptive positive” for cocaine and fentanyl in her system. An official cause of death has not been determined.
Woll was later booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on two felony counts of child endangerment, one count of aggravated serious bodily injury to a child under 5, plus an additional misdemeanor count of destruction of evidence, the Mercury News reported.
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office did not respond to The Times' request for comment before publication.
The district attorney's office told the Mercury News that the baby, referred to as “Zhorriah Doe,” was found dead Sunday in a bed with his sleeping 4-year-old brother.
Santa Cruz Police Detective Robert Caposio said Woll had taken her daughter “to an area known for drug dealing and to a residence there.” Woll’s alleged neglect of her daughter “led directly to her death,” the Mercury News reported.
The Mercury News reported that Knoll, her children and her baby's father were recently homeless until the father died of a fentanyl overdose in April. Woll took her children to live with her parents in Scotts Valley after his death until July 16. Woll's living status beyond the July date is unknown.
The district attorney's investigation is ongoing and Woll's initial appearance in Santa Cruz County Superior Court has been delayed until Aug. 7.
