Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Mother’s Conviction in Toddler’s Overdose Death

A mother from Northern Kentucky, found guilty of murder due to the overdose death of her toddler—who ingested fentanyl purchased with a federal stimulus check—has been denied her appeal by the Kentucky Supreme Court.

On Thursday, the court unanimously affirmed 37-year-old Lauren Baker’s conviction, dismissing most of her claims, including the assertion that the presiding judge had incorrectly overruled a motion for acquittal based on inadequate evidence.

Baker was convicted in April 2023 by a Kenton County jury on charges of murder, importing fentanyl, and trafficking in a controlled substance, receiving a sentence of 33 years in prison.

According to Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders, Baker was the first individual in the county convicted of murder for exposing her child to fentanyl.

Baker allegedly spent $1,200 of a stimulus check she received in March 2021 to acquire nearly an ounce of fentanyl from a drug dealer in Cincinnati, as detailed in court documents.

Just days later, Baker and her 2-year-old son fell asleep together at her home in Ludlow. Upon waking, she found her child unresponsive across her lap, with fentanyl and drug paraphernalia scattered on the bed.

He was later pronounced dead at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, with prosecutors indicating the boy had over 10 times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system.

A medical examiner concluded that the child had “accessed something he should not have had access to, leading to his death,” as stated in the court’s opinion.

Justices dismiss claim that murder conviction was ‘clearly unreasonable’

In her appeal, Baker contended that the jury’s conviction for wanton murder was “clearly unreasonable” and that the evidence didn’t demonstrate that her actions showed “extreme indifference to human life,” as per the court’s opinion.

During questioning with investigators, Baker indicated that she stored her fentanyl in a plastic bag inside a cigarette box, which was placed in a pouch that zipped shut and kept in her purse.

She mentioned that she would tie her purse to the headboard of her bed and place it between the wall and the bed, according to court records.

Baker’s defense team argued that she took significant precautions to keep the opioids away from her children, emphasizing that she quickly administered Narcan and performed CPR until first responders arrived.

However, prosecutors argued that Baker was aware of fentanyl’s deadly nature yet still brought it into her household, knowing her child could access her paraphernalia since he had done so a year prior.

The justices agreed with the trial court, affirming that Baker was aware of the risks associated with fentanyl but chose to store it in a location accessible to her toddler.

Baker also argued that the jury should have been given the option to consider a less severe charge of reckless homicide during their deliberations.

The justices determined that evidence did not support a reckless homicide instruction and that the jury ultimately decided to convict Baker of murder even after being informed of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Baker’s attorney has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the court’s opinion from The Enquirer.

According to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, Baker will be eligible for parole in March 2041.