Minnesota Mom Pleads Guilty in Infant’s Fentanyl Overdose Death

St. Paul, MN (MinnesotaNow) - A sentencing hearing has been scheduled in the case of a Minnesota woman charged in connection with the Christmas Day drug overdose death of her one-year-old son.

The criminal complaint against 32-year-old Jasmine Nicole Ryan says St. Paul police responded to a residence in the early morning hours of December 25, 2024, on a report that a one-year-old child was not breathing and had been exposed to fentanyl. When they arrived, officers found the child’s father, 39-year-old Jeffrey Joseph Weidell, in a room described as a mess, with clothing, diapers, trash, and tinfoil strewn all over.

Ramsey County Jail photo

Police Found Toddler Unresponsive on Christmas Morning

The court document says officers found Ryan in the kitchen performing CPR on her one-year-old, who was unconscious and not breathing. When asked if the child had ingested or choked on anything, the criminal complaint says Ryan replied, “Fentanyl.” She also stated that she had administered Narcan to her son before police arrived.

When questioned by investigators, the criminal complaint says Ryan admitted smoking fentanyl on Christmas Eve. Officers noted that she did not seem overly concerned about her son while sitting in the back of the squad car and stated that she “seemed out of it and under the influence of something.”

Alex_Schmidt

Home Search Turned Up Meth, Fentanyl, and Drug Paraphernalia

The court document says a search of the home led to the discovery of small quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Burned pieces of tinfoil found on the living room couch and in other areas of the home also tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.

Two Other Children Removed by Child Protection Services

Both Weidell and Ryan were charged in January with second-degree manslaughter in connection with their son’s death, which an autopsy later determined was due to fentanyl toxicity. Court documents indicate two other children in the home were placed into child protection, including a one-month-old who tested positive for fentanyl at birth.

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Ryan recently entered a “straight plea” and admitted to the second-degree manslaughter charge. She is scheduled to be sentenced in February.

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Source: Minnesota Mom Pleads Guilty in Infant’s Fentanyl Overdose Death

Filed Under: Crime, St. Paul, Drugs, methamphetamine, Fentanyl

Categories: State News