Parents charged over fentanyl death of 2 year old

UPDATE: According to the Hamilton County Jail’s Inmate List, both shared an address on the 3100 block of 15th Avenue in East Lake.

The indictment we received from the Hamilton County Courthouse only details the charges Greathouse and Bell are facing, but says their son fell ill on or before March 20th before being taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Taiwan Greathouse and Brittany Bell were indicted by a Grand Jury, and charged with First Degree Premeditated Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Child Endangerment, and Two Counts Each of Misdemeanor Child Endangerment.

Each of their bonds have been set at $620,000.

According to the Hamilton County Health Department, fentanyl exposure can be more dangerous to children due to them being smaller.

They told News 12 in part that children will experience lethargy and a sudden loss of breathing when exposed to fentanyl.

Erlanger told News 12 they are seeing infrequent cases of toddlers coming into T.C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital with opioid abuse symptoms, at most once a week.

Numbers compiled by the Department of Children’s Services, which say over 42,000 children were in alleged dangerous drug situations, is down from previous years.

This is why they, along with the TBI, are emphasizing National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day.

Tabatha Curtis with the Tennessee Alliance of Drug Endangered Children, “We’re very happy that some of those numbers are down, but we still have a lot of work to do in providing those services for children and families.”

They are working with partner agencies to address situations like the one that unfolded recently in Chattanooga.

Curtis says there are things you can do to help children in dangerous situations.

Curtis said, “If you see or suspect child abuse you should report it, absolutely you should report it. We have an amazing Tennessee Department of Children Services we partner with. We have amazing partnerships with our law enforcement. So if you see something, report it.”

The Tennessee Aquarium is one of many landmarks across the state lighting up in red in support of this awareness campaign through midnight Wednesday.

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Chattanooga Police have arrested the parents of a young child who died at the hospital.

They say the two year old was taken there with signs of distress.

Fentanyl was later found in the child’s system.

Police charged Taiwan Greathouse and Brittany Bell on Tuesday afternoon.

Both are 34.

They face charges of 1st degree premeditated murder, felony murder, aggravated child endangerment, and 2 counts of misdemeanor child endangerment.