Toddler lay dying from fentanyl as parents ignored cries, prosecutors say

BRIGHTON, Colo. — A 22-month-old Brighton girl is dead after ingesting “a significant amount of fentanyl” as her cries went unanswered for 14 hours, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said.

Aviyana Montoya’s father, 33-year-old Alonzo Montoya, was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act following a two-week trial in Adams County District Court, the DA’s office announced on Tuesday.

Aviyana’s mother, 32-year-old Nicole Casias was also indicted by an Adams County Grand Jury on the same charges. Her case is set for a jury trial in March.

Prosecutors said the pair were operating a drug dealing operation out of their Brighton Home, and home surveillance cameras showed drug-using activities before, during, and after Aviyana’s death.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1WJaiB_0qvTnTNd00 17 th Judicial District Attorney’s Office

The toddler was found unresponsive in a crib in her room on Jan. 2, 2023. She was eventually pronounced dead by arriving paramedics.

The coroner determined that Aviyana, who was teething at the time, died as a result of ingesting a significant amount of fentanyl. She had 10 times the amount of the powerful drug in her system needed to kill an intolerant adult user. They also found traces of methamphetamines in her system.

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