A Phoenix woman was arrested after her young son died from what appears to be a drug overdose. Natalie Tate, 37, is facing charges of negligent homicide and child abuse following the death of her 1-year-old son, Jody Jackson.
Responding to a distress call early Monday, Phoenix officers discovered the child unconscious in an apartment near 32nd and Van Buren streets, as reported by ABC15. Despite attempts to resuscitate the toddler by Phoenix fire officials, he was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother admits to having used drugs the night before, as per the police statement.
Tate, who confirmed she was the toddler’s caretaker at the time of his death, suspected that the child might have gotten into her drugs and ingested a pill accidentally. A second child was found in the apartment unharmed, detailed in the police report.
While Tate was booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges relating to the tragic event, a definitive cause of death awaits the post-mortem examination's results. According to a 12news interview, the investigation is still active, pending the medical examiner's findings to shed more light on the case.
Tate is currently being held in custody, with the legal system poised to address the harrowing substance misuse implicated in the loss of young Jody Jackson.
