Mother charged after her 10-month-old son died of overdose: police

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Vanessa Hampton, 32 | Philadelphia Police Department

PHILADELPHIA – A 32-year-old Philadelphia woman faces multiple charges after authorities say she caused the death of her 10-month-old son through exposure to an illegal drug.

On Thursday, the Burlington County District Attorney’s Office and Medford Township Police announced that Vanessa Hampton, 32, of the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

According to officials, officers from the Medford Township Police Department were called to a residence in November 2022 for a report of an unresponsive toddler. He was taken to Virtua Hospital in Voorhees and then to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, he did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead about a week later.

An investigation was then launched.

An autopsy conducted by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office found the death to be a homicide and concluded that the infant had died from drug poisoning following exposure to xylazine.

Xylazine is commonly used in veterinary medicine as a sedative, muscle relaxant, and analgesic. It is important to note that it is not approved for human consumption or medical treatment in the United States.

According to the investigation, Hampton was responsible for exposing her child to the drug, which led to his death after ingestion.

Hampton was taken into custody in Philadelphia last week and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey. Her deputy, Jamie Hutchinson, will prosecute her.