BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
STARKE— The mother of a 3-year-old girl who died of a fentanyl overdose was sentenced to 19 months in prison, while the victim’s father was sentenced to 364 days in jail.
A’Liyah Janae’ Murrah was pronounced dead at Starke ER on Aug. 26, 2020, shortly after Bradford EMS transported her to the hospital from Orangewood Apartments.
A toxicology report later revealed the child died from a fentanyl overdose.
On Nov. 3, 2021, the girl’s mother: D’Lana A. King pleaded no contest to felony child neglect and the father: J’Shawn D. Murrah pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor: culpable negligence.
According to court papers, Starke Police arrived at the mother’s apartment to find the child’s grandmother performing CPR on the girl. Police found no pulse and took over lifesaving efforts until Bradford EMS arrived and continued CPR.
Starke police Lt. Michael Rooney wrote in a warrant affidavit that he interviewed King at the hospital.
“King stated she picked up A’Liyah and her siblings from their grandmother’s at approximately (3 p.m.),” Rooney wrote.
King added that the children were playing normally at home when A’Liyah began fighting with her two-year-old brother. King said she put the girl in “time out” then went to bed herself for a nap around 5 p.m.
“King stated that at some point between (8:30 and 9:00) one of the children stated they were hungry, so she was going to cook dinner,” Rooney wrote. “She went to wake up A’Liyah and she would not wake. King stated she shook A’Liya to awaken her, and she still would not wake.”
The mother then called 911.
Rooney added that King consented to a search of the apartment, but the search yielded nothing that would account for the child’s death.
The following month, the mother was interviewed a second time by Rooney and disclosed for the first time that on the night of the child’s death, J’Shawn Murrah came to her apartment around 6 p.m.
King added that when she discovered their daughter unresponsive and called 911, Murrah told her he had to get back to Gainesville.
Rooney wrote that Murrah did not cooperate with his investigation and did not cooperate with DCF workers as well.
When the child’s toxicology report came back in December, the doctor who performed the autopsy said the fentanyl level in the girl’s blood was the highest he had ever seen and that the girl died shortly after ingesting the drug.
Rooney wrote in the affidavit that King’s and Murrah’s failure to adequately supervise the child resulted in her death.
Additional coverage
“Do not make speculations,” says grandfather of child who police say died of fentanyl overdose
Police arrest parents after 3-year-old dies from Fentanyl overdose
Parents charged after 3-year-old dies of fentanyl overdose in Starke
Parents charged after 3-year-old dies of fentanyl overdose in Starke
