Miami-Dade Woman Arrested After 18-Month-Old Child Dies From Fentanyl Exposure

MIAMI, Fla. — A Miami-Dade woman has been arrested on an aggravated manslaughter charge after investigators said her 18-month-old child died from exposure to fentanyl and cocaine inside a residence earlier this year.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Thursday that Pearlandria Boujolly, 29, was arrested by agents with FDLE’s South Florida State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication, or S.A.F.E., Task Force in connection with the child’s death.

Boujolly is charged with one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child under 18 years old.

According to FDLE, Miami Police and Miami Fire Rescue responded to a report of an unresponsive child at approximately 3:50 a.m. on Jan. 3. The child was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

An autopsy conducted by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Department found fentanyl and a trace amount of cocaine in the child’s blood, authorities said.

Investigators determined that narcotics had allegedly been left inside an unlocked room at the residence where the child was found. FDLE said the child accidentally ingested a small amount of the drugs.

Authorities said Boujolly was not inside the residence at the time the child consumed the narcotics.

“The State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (S.A.F.E.) program has been a monumental resource in Florida’s fight against fentanyl trafficking,” FDLE Miami Special Agent in Charge Michael Stein said. “When the deadly effects of fentanyl hit our communities, especially our children, FDLE and our partners are motivated, more than ever, to use every investigative resource available to hold everyone involved accountable.”

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle called the child’s death heartbreaking and said the case demonstrates the dangers of leaving narcotics accessible to children.

“It is a heartbreaking day when a child loses their life inside their own home due to a parent’s recklessness and dangerous drugs left out in the open,” Rundle said.

Miami Police Chief Edwin Lopez also described the death as preventable and credited the agencies involved in the investigation.

“The death of an 18-month-old child from fentanyl exposure is a heartbreaking and entirely preventable tragedy,” Lopez said. “This arrest sends a clear message: there is zero tolerance for negligence that puts an innocent child’s life at risk.”

Boujolly was arrested Aug. 20 at her Miami-Dade residence by members of the South Florida S.A.F.E. Task Force and Miami Police Department. FDLE said she will be transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Detention Center in West Miami-Dade.

Authorities said additional charges could be filed.

The South Florida S.A.F.E. Task Force includes personnel from FDLE and the Doral, Florida International University, Hialeah, Medley, Miami, Miami Springs and Sweetwater police departments.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.