Broward County Sheriff Arrests Woman for Grandson's Overdose Death

A grandmother in South Florida was arrested after her grandson overdosed on a powerful antihistamine known as cyproheptadine.

According to Broward County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Care Codd Sr., detectives arrested Tibina Louissant on Friday, Oct. 13, for aggravated manslaughter of a child. The arrest came less than 30 days after Broward County Regional Communications received a call regarding an unresponsive child at 124 N.W. 40th Court in Oakland Park. BSO Oakland Park District deputies and Oakland Park Fire Rescue responded to the scene. Paramedics transported the victim, 11-month-old Josiah Fenelus to Broward Health Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy and determined in October 2022 that Josiah Fenelus had a lethal concentration of the powerful antihistamine cyproheptadine in his body. In the summer of 2023, toxicology tests determined that items found in Louissant’s home, two baby bottles, tested positive for cyproheptadine. According to detectives, Louissant said she was the only person to make Josiah’s bottles while in her care.

After the final autopsy report was completed. Josiah’s cause of death was determined to be cyproheptadine toxicity, and the manner of death determined to be a homicide.

This past Friday afternoon, Louissant was booked into the Broward County Main Jail and released on bond on Saturday following a court appearance.