32-Year-Old Philadelphia Woman Charged With Allowing Her 10-Month-Old Son To Be Exposed To Xylazine

Friday, June 28, 2024, 7:15 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

MEDFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ.- Last week, a 32-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania woman was taken into custody and is awaiting extradition back to New Jersey to face charges in connection with allowing her infant son to be exposed to an illicit drug, ultimately leading to the infant’s death in November 2022.

     According to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, Vanessa Hampton, 32, of the Frankford section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was formally charged last week with second-degree Manslaughter; and third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Hampton is currently being detained in the Philadelphia City Jail system awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

     The charges stem from an investigation that began in November 2022, when members of the Medford Township Police Department responded to a residence following receiving a 911 Emergency Call reporting an unresponsive infant. The infant boy was immediately transported to Virtua Hospital in Voorhees, New Jersey, and later transferred to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. The boy failed to regain consciousness and was tragically pronounced deceased a week later.

     Following the infant’s death an autopsy was performed by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office, and the death was ruled to be homicide. Concluding that the infant boy died from drug intoxication after being exposed to Xylazine.

     Xylazine, commonly going by the street name, “Tranq” is widely used in veterinary medicine as a sedative, muscle relaxant, and analgesic. In the United States, Xylazine is not approved for human consumption or medical treatment. Based on the investigation Detectives allege that Hampton was responsible for exposing her infant son to the drug, which resulted in the child’s death.

“The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”