Pittsburgh mother charged in fentanyl death of baby

A Pittsburgh woman faces involuntary manslaughter charges after her 4-month-old baby died of fentanyl toxicity, officials said.

Katie Lynn Grimes, 33, of Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood, was charged Sunday with several crimes in relation to the death of her son, including involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.

An investigation was launched following a Jan. 25 call to Grimes’ Brownsville Road home, where the baby was found unresponsive, according to a criminal complaint. Grimes told police that she fell asleep and woke up to the baby not breathing, called 911 and attempted to resuscitate the infant.

First responders also attempted to resuscitate the child when they arrived and then transferred the baby boy to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he died, according to the complaint.

In March, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the infant’s blood contained 0.3 nanograms of fentanyl per milligram of blood. This month, the office ruled that the child died accidentally of fentanyl toxicity, according to the complaint.

Grimes also is facing charges of reckless endangerment and drug possession, according to court documents.