A 22-year-old woman, Jestice James has been charged with murder after her 3-year-old twin sons died from alleged exposure of drugs laced with fentanyl.
Jestice was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of child abuse after her twins, Josiah and Jestine, were found unresponsive at their home in Canoga Park, Calif. on July 11.
The three-year-old twins were unresponsive when paramedics arrived at the apartment where James was with her boyfriend and her family.
The boys were rushed to a nearby hospital, but family members said it was too late. Josiah, the older of the twins, died later that night, while Jestine died two days later.
Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami told DailyMail James’ case is the first in Los Angeles County where a parent has been charged with de@ths related to alleged fentanyl overdose.
The veteran prosecutor would not go into detail as to how the twins were exposed to fentanyl pending the ongoing investigation.
However, Hatami said there has been four other similar cases of children exposed to fentanyl in LA County within the past six months.
“Children are out most vulnerable,” Hatami said.
“They don’t buy fentanyl and they don’t smoke it. Adults are doing that but it is the innocent children who are paying the ultimate price. It’s unacceptable.
“When it comes to fentanyl exposure, we need to do everything we can to protect the innocent children.”
James looked visibly distraught as she appeared at a Van Nuys courthouse on Tuesday afternoon, July 16, while a handful of her family members sat in the court audience.
The young mother struggled to hold back tears as her mother, LaTina Allen, mouthed, “I love you,” to her from across the courtroom.
James will remain in county jail in lieu of a $4 million bail. She is scheduled to appear back in court July 31 once an attorney is assigned to her case.
Family members who attended Tuesday’s hearing said James is a doting mother who would not place her beloved sons in any harm.
They boys recently celebrated their birthday and were at the beach during the July Fourth holiday celebrating with family.
