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Child exposed to drugs, killed, prompting parents to testify – NBC10 Philadelphia

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A Chester County couple has been arrested in connection with the death of a child who came into contact with illegal drugs last year, according to a spokesman for the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

Holly Back, 40, and Mousa Hawa, 41, both of Coatesville, were arrested and charged with murder, manslaughter and other related offenses, prosecutors said.

Chester County detectives said that shortly after 2:30 a.m. on July 26, 2023, Coatesville Police officers were called to a home in the 500 block of East Lincoln Highway for a report of an 8-year-old child in cardiac arrest.

When officers arrived at the home, they were greeted by Back, who led them into the apartment where Hawa was performing CPR on the child, officers said.

Officials said the child’s skin was ashen and his ears and mouth were blue, police said.

According to the district attorney, officers began CPR and saw bags of medication scattered throughout the room and a bag with more bottles of medication on the floor.

The child was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later, officials said.

According to officials, investigators found drug paraphernalia scattered throughout the house.

Three empty bags of heroin were found on the floor of the room where officers found the child, investigators said.

According to officials, hundreds of small bags containing blue fentanyl and heroin were found in a shoebox. Some bags were empty or contained residue.

Cell phone records of all suspects showed that Back and Hawa had discussed drug use, investigators reported.

Hawa apparently told investigators that the child who was killed knew not to touch the drugs, officials said. The child was told the drugs were medication and that he was not allowed to touch the medication unless it was administered to him.

The deceased child’s blood, urine and hair were tested, investigators said. The child’s samples were positive for cocaine and fentanyl.

The child’s hair sample showed traces of fentanyl in his body. Investigators say this means he had already come into contact with the drug before he was found in late July.

If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, please call 911 immediately or call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.

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