An Ohio couple has been sentenced to significant prison terms following the death of their newborn daughter from cocaine toxicity, an investigation that also revealed infant feeding supplies found in close proximity to illegal substances.
Justin Soll, 32, received a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years after entering a guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of his daughter, Emilia Soll, who passed away at only eight days old. Emilia’s mother, Shannon Wester, was sentenced on October 30 to a term of five to seven and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to the same charge.
According to local CBS affiliate WTOL, law enforcement officers responded at approximately 4 a.m. on February 22 to a residence on the 2900 block of Luverne Avenue in Oregon, near Toledo, following a report of a newborn who had stopped breathing.
Wester stated that she had fed the infant, who was five days old at the time, approximately two hours before placing her on a pink pillow on the floor. Soll reported that he awoke to discover his daughter was not breathing, at which point he contacted 911 and administered CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene.
First responders found the infant pale and unresponsive, with vomit present around her mouth. She was immediately transported to a hospital, where she passed away three days later.
Investigators discovered pacifiers and bottle nipples in close proximity to bags containing white powder.
Emilia’s cause of death was determined to be cocaine toxicity. At the time, both parents and the newborn were residing in the basement of Wester’s parents’ home.
“The bedroom was riddled with numerous drug paraphernalia and cocaine,” prosecutor Samantha Crist told the court. “There were a lot of drugs in a very small room.”
In a letter read aloud to the judge by his attorney, Soll expressed that he was “deeply sorry” for his conduct, acknowledging that he had battled drug addiction for several years.
“I should have sought help before she was born. I failed to put her needs before my own,” he said.
Soll reportedly wrote that following his daughter’s death, he and Wester engaged in “benders that we hoped would kill us.”
Judge Joe McNamara stated that Soll had fundamentally failed in his responsibilities as a father.
“You’re a danger to the community when you’re using,” the judge said.
During Wester’s sentencing, Judge McNamara reportedly emphasized that Emilia should never have been placed in that basement environment.
“That was not a safe place for your child to be,” the judge declared.
Leave a Reply