A Baltimore grandfather has been ordered to serve six years in prison for the fentanyl-related death of his 13-month-old grandson, Messiah, after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. The sentence, imposed yesterday at the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse, also includes three years of supervised probation under a plea deal. As the defendant admitted his role in court, relatives and attorneys broke down in tears.
Sentencing and courtroom reaction
Judge John Addison Howard imposed the maximum term allowed under the agreement — six years in custody plus three years of probation — and refused requests to delay the start of the sentence or convert it to home detention, according to The Baltimore Banner. He told the courtroom that the defendant’s longstanding struggles with controlled substances did not lessen the gravity of what happened. Family members later described the hearing as devastating.
What happened that day
According to charging documents and local reporting, Messiah was dropped off at his grandfather’s apartment on West Cold Spring Lane on October 27, 2023. Investigators say Steven Heggie Sr. admitted he had snorted heroin before the child arrived and again before the handoff. The toddler was taken to Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later listed drug toxicity as the cause of death and ruled the manner a homicide, as reported by WMAR2 News and noted in local court coverage.
Prosecutors' account
Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer McAllister told the court that “Messiah should be 3 years old, talking, running and learning his letters, numbers and colors,” emphasizing that his parents had paid Heggie Sr. to watch their son, according to The Baltimore Banner. Prosecutors argued that Heggie knew the child was dead and did not call for help. Judge Howard reiterated that substance use problems could not excuse the outcome.
Court history and defense
Heggie Sr., 62, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in June 2025 after initially facing additional child-abuse and related charges. His attorneys contended he never intended to harm his grandson and highlighted chronic illnesses and repeated hospitalizations in arguing that incarceration would be especially difficult. Defense counsel had previously sought delays to gather medical records and evaluations and raised concerns about his ability to serve time; those requests were rejected at sentencing, according to local reporting. The plea was first detailed by Baltimore Witness, while the pre-sentencing history was later summarized in additional coverage.
Broader context
The case highlights how fentanyl and other powerful opioids can endanger children through accidental exposure at home, even as Maryland officials point to progress in reducing overdose deaths. Provisional statewide data released by the governor’s office show a marked decline in fatal overdoses in 2025, and credit expanded naloxone distribution and overdose-response efforts as key parts of a public health strategy, according to the Office of Governor Wes Moore. Advocates say tragedies like Messiah’s underscore the need for stronger prevention measures and more support for families affected by substance use.
