A 33-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with manslaughter several months after her infant died from a fentanyl overdose.
On Wednesday, January 24, an Ocala Police Department detective arrested Kacy Joan Kincaid for aggravated manslaughter of a child.
Last year, on October 12, OPD officers responded to AdventHealth in reference to an unresponsive 9-month-old child who was later pronounced deceased.
“At the time, the cause of death was unclear,” stated the police department in a media release. “However, the child’s mother, Kacy Kincaid, had 5 grams of Fentanyl in her possession.”
An OPD detective attempted to interview Kincaid, but she appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After a search warrant was obtained, a sample of Kincaid’s blood was drawn and sent to a lab for testing, according to police.
Kincaid was placed under arrest and taken to Marion County Jail for a felony trafficking charge. Five days later, she was released from jail after posting a $20,000 bond.
According to OPD, investigators received a report from the Medical Examiner’s Office indicating that the child’s death had been caused by “fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine toxicity.” Kincaid’s blood sample also contained fentanyl, along with “other substances.”
OPD stated that the five grams of fentanyl in Kincaid’s possession was subsequently tested, and it “showed the presence of the same xylazine compound that was found in the child’s blood during the autopsy.”
The OPD detective who led the investigation ultimately determined that sufficient probable cause existed to arrest Kincaid for the death of her child.
Kincaid is currently being held at Marion County Jail without bond. She is being charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and trafficking illegal drugs (30 kilograms or more).
Kincaid is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, according to jail records.
The Ocala Police Department concluded Monday’s media release with the following statement:
“Drug addiction is a serious issue that can have devastating consequences. It’s unfortunate that an innocent child lost their life due to Fentanyl. We urge everyone to stay away from drugs and seek help if they are struggling with addiction. Our drug amnesty program provides a safe way to dispose of drugs and get the help you need. Please reach out to us if you need assistance.”