Mother charged in fatal fentanyl intoxication of 2-year-old son held without bail

A Cranston mother arrested on murder charges after her 2-year-old died from fentanyl exposure, was held without bail Monday.

According to Pawtucket Police, on the evening of December 10, 2021, the Pawtucket Police and Fire Departments responded to a Sayles Avenue address for a report of an unresponsive 2-year-old boy. The child, sadly, was later pronounced deceased at an area hospital.

Police say that the apartment was in awful condition and did not include basic furniture. Officers observed equipment commonly used in the manufacturing and distribution of narcotics inside the apartment.

A two-month long investigation was initiated by the Detective Division, the Special Squad Narcotics Division as well as DCYF, the RI Medical Examiner’s Office and the RI Attorney General’s Office. The child’s death was ruled a homicide with the cause being acute fentanyl intoxication.

At the conclusion of the investigation, with some assistance from the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, three individuals culpable were arrested.

The child’s mother, 26-year-old Jessaline Andrade, was arraigned in court on Monday on charges of Murder in the 2nd degree and 2 counts of cruelty to or neglect of a child. According to WJAR 10, Andrade was held without bail and a not guilty plea was made on her behalf.

31-year-old Stephano Castro, from Providence, was arraigned Friday on a charge of Murder in the 2nd degree.

33-year-old Yara Chum, from Pawtucket, was also arraigned Friday on a charge of Murder in the 2nd degree.

Additionally, during the same incident on the evening of December 10th, an 8-year-old boy, a sibling of the deceased child, had also tested positive for fentanyl exposure but luckily survived.

DCYF has taken custody of Andrade’s two remaining children.