North Carolina – In a harrowing case out of North Carolina, a 26-year-old mother, identified as B. Parks, is facing serious felony charges after her 1-year-old daughter died from exposure to crack cocaine and fentanyl. The mother has been charged with felony child abuse and felony exposure of a child to controlled substances following the death of her daughter just after Christmas.
According to arrest documents, the powerful combination of drugs was directly responsible for the infant’s death. The mother, who was living with the child in a motel room at the time, is accused of recklessly endangering her daughter’s life by creating an environment where she came into contact with narcotics. At 1:23 a.m. on December 26, 2025, officers with the police department responded to an emergency call for medical assistance at the motel. When officers arrived, they discovered a 1-year-old child who was “not breathing.” First responders quickly transported the toddler to a nearby hospital, but despite efforts to save her, the 1-year-old girl was pronounced dead upon arrival.
As protocol dictates in any child fatality, homicide detectives from the police department were dispatched to the scene. Crime scene investigators combed through the motel room for evidence, and multiple law enforcement divisions, including the department’s Operations Command and Victim Services, provided support. The fire department was also on-site during the emergency response. Investigators quickly began to focus on the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. A guest at the motel, who reportedly knew the family, suggested to authorities that the toddler might have suffered an overdose. That initial tip launched an intensive forensic investigation that later revealed the presence of both crack cocaine and fentanyl in the motel room.
As evidence mounted, investigators determined that the child had indeed been exposed to those substances, and that exposure directly led to her death. Though it remains unclear exactly how the drugs came into contact with the child—whether through inhalation, ingestion, or other means—detectives described Parks’ behavior as “reckless” and stated that her actions allowed the fatal outcome to occur.
Parks was interviewed by homicide detectives later that same day. After the interview, she was arrested and taken to the county sheriff’s office, where she remains in custody. Currently being held under a $1 million bond, Parks is scheduled to make her next court appearance on January 15, 2026. The charges against her—felony child abuse and felony exposure of a child to controlled substances—carry severe penalties if she is convicted.
As the investigation continues, police are still seeking more information from anyone who may have insights into what happened in the hours before the child’s death. Authorities are urging witnesses to come forward and call 704-432-8477 (TIPS). The tragedy has shaken the local community and once again brought attention to the devastating impact of drugs in domestic environments. What began as a standard medical call in the early hours after Christmas ended in the unimaginable loss of a child—an outcome investigators now say could have been prevented.
