Pennsylvania Parents Arrested in Son's Death From Fentanyl Exposure

In a harrowing incident in Thorndale, Pennsylvania, Jason and Amanda Moore, parents to a 4-year-old boy, find themselves in custody after being indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

The charges were a result of their son's untimely demise following exposure to the deadly drug, fentanyl, catapulting the quiet streets of Thorndale into a grim spotlight.

On Nov. 29, 2022, police were called to the Moore's home on account of their son's peculiar behavior, only to discover the child unresponsive. The parents had already started performing CPR which was taken over by the emergency crew soon after their arrival.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the child couldn't be saved and was declared dead at the Children’s Hospital in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

On reviewing the sequence of events leading up to the tragedy, it was established that Jason and Amanda had left their 13-year-old in charge of the 4-year-old and their 3-year-old sibling when they left for work at 7 am that fateful day.

The night before the tragic incident, the 4-year-old had complained of a headache and was supposedly feeling unwell. In response, the parents gave him Tylenol and a bath before putting him to bed.

At around 4 AM, the child woke up briefly but returned to sleep on the couch. Later that morning, the older sibling tried waking him up, but was unsuccessful.

The panic-stricken teen alerted his parents, prompting Jason to rush home. While the cause of the child's death wasn't immediately apparent, a subsequent investigation unraveled a chilling truth.

In the hunt for answers, investigators discovered two clear water bottles with unknown liquids, a blanket, and a half-eaten lollipop retrieved from the trash can in the parents' bedroom.

On January 23, 2023, their worst fears were confirmed when the lollipop stick tested positive for fentanyl. Later, a medical report revealed the presence of fentanyl in the young boy's cardiac blood and brain tissue.

Further investigations exposed Jason's drug use, with evidence of drug paraphernalia in his vehicle tested positive for fentanyl. Police suspect that Jason delayed calling for help to dispose of the drug items.

Both Jason and Amanda willingly submitted hair samples to substantiate claims of narcotic use. Amanda's tests came back positive for fentanyl, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.

Additional testing later suggested a chronic use of narcotics, indicating a history of drug usage.

Following the revelation, bail was pegged at $250,000 for each accused, and they were both incarcerated at the Chester County Prison. The parents are restricted from any contact with children, including their own.

The preliminary hearing, scheduled for Aug. 23 in Downingtown, is sure to bring more details to light.