On February 5, 2024, Carolyn Scott, a mother from Aiken, South Carolina, was arrested in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, Riley Scott. She has been charged with murder/homicide by child abuse, two counts of child/legal guardian, and unlawful neglect of a child or incapacitated person.
In September 2023, 26-year-old Carolyn Scott was charged with intentionally causing a drug overdose on her 3-year-old daughter. An autopsy determined Riley's cause of death was acute mixed drug intoxication of fentanyl and methamphetamine, WJBF reported. The death was ruled a homicide. Carolyn Scott remains held at the Aiken County Detention Center in South Carolina without bond.
The South Carolina mother allegedly waited more than an hour before calling 911
WRDW-TV reported that on September 10, 2023, at approximately 9:31 p.m., first responders were dispatched to the 100 block of Ellen Drive off Durham Road, South Carolina. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they found first responders performing CPR on the child.
According to a WRDW-TV report, Carolyn Scott initially told authorities that she was working on her schoolwork while Riley Scott was sleeping. Caroline stated that her daughter was asleep for approximately two hours. She said one of her other children tried to wake Riley up when the mother saw what appeared to be vomit on the bed. I turned Riley over and found her unresponsive as she was turning blue.
Forensics and juvenile investigators were also present at the scene, the outlet reported. Riley was taken to Children's Hospital of Georgia, where she was pronounced dead. WJBF reported that Carolyn waited more than an hour before calling 911 for medical help.
According to WRDW-TV, the child's body temperature was 86 degrees, indicating a delay of more than an hour before medical assistance. Narcan was also found in her blood, indicating that the medication was given to her while she was still alive.
WGAC reported that the warrant for Carolyn Scott's arrest report states:
“An autopsy and toxicology analysis revealed that the cause of death was acute intoxication with the drugs fentanyl and methamphetamine and that the manner of her death was homicide. Naloxone (Narcan) was also found present in her blood indicating that she was taking the medication while in the hospital.” “She's still alive. Caroline had knowledge of the dangers of fentanyl.”
The South Carolina mother told authorities that Riley Scott had no known medical issues, WJBF reported.
Authorities allegedly found evidence of drug use at the residence
Authorities claimed to have found evidence of drug use at Carolyn Scott's home, WGAC reported. The arrest warrant stated,
“There were uncapped syringes, chips and suspected narcotics within reach of the minor child. Sheets and other items found in the home were found to contain methamphetamine and fentanyl.”
According to an arrest warrant reported by WRDW-TV, the South Carolina mother allowed children between the ages of 4 and 8 to live in a residence without running water while setting up electricity illegally and in an unsafe manner.
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