Photo: Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Ashley MalloyAppearing in Maine’s Kennebec County Superior Court, a 22-year-old girl pleaded guilty to manslaughter and drug trafficking.
This, after the overdose death of their 14-month-old baby, an event that, in turn, led to the discovery of a drug shipment valued at $700,000.
According to the News Center Maine site, everything happened in November 2021, when Malloy called 911 after finding her son, Karson Malloy, unconscious and not breathing after a nap. About an hour later, at the hospital, the boy was pronounced dead.
Detectives who went to Ashley’s home discovered white powder on a sheet and blanket in the bedroom where Karson slept. An autopsy determined that the baby died of complications after being exposed to fentanylsaid police officials.
#HappeningNow: Ashley Malloy of Oakland is pleading guilty to manslaughter in the 2021 death of her 14-month-old son. She is also pleading guilty to three counts of drug trafficking, which have been lowered from Class A to Class B as part of an agreement. pic.twitter.com/ClIEn6qGHv
— Chloe Teboe (@ChloeTeboe) August 30, 2023
Assistant Attorney General Katie Sibley shared the evidence the state would have presented if the case had gone to trial. She said that the day Karson died, at the hospital investigators did a standard interview with Malloy.
“During this interview, Ashley’s behavior changed dramatically between ups and downs,” Sibley said. She “became defiant and she told detectives that the state already had Karson’s medical information and that she wanted to go back to her house.”
But once the police started the investigation nearly 6 pounds of fentanyl, more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than a pound of crack were found in the woman’s apartmentdrugs that on the street would have a value of more than 700,000 dollars.
Sibley said detectives determined that Karson died of complications from fentanyl exposure. “The amount of fentanyl in Karson’s system could kill more than four adult users.”added the deputy attorney general.
In this regard, Malloy’s defense attorney, John Pelletier, argued that she did not understand the risk to the baby, which would be criminal negligence. In addition, he argued that other people were dealing drugs and that her client was only an accomplice, not an active participant.
Malloy faces up to 60 years in prison and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Until then, he will be out on bail under certain conditions.
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