A Minneapolis grandmother is facing a second-degree manslaughter charge after a 2-year-old in her care died from a fentanyl overdose, according to court records. Prosecutors say 42-year-old Joanna Sanchez-Cordero has been charged and a warrant has been issued for her arrest, but she has not yet been taken into custody.
What Investigators Say Happened
On March 18, officers responded to a Minneapolis home on a report that a young child was not breathing. Inside, investigators say they later found drug paraphernalia in both a bedroom and a bathroom, including a pipe with suspected drug residue, according to the criminal complaint cited by KSTP. The complaint, which names Sanchez-Cordero, also notes that another child in the home was found unharmed.
Autopsy Results And Scene Details
An autopsy determined that the 2-year-old died from acute fentanyl toxicity. Prosecutors' filings state that officers observed signs that evidence at the scene had been moved after medics and police first entered the residence. Those details, along with family accounts, are described in local coverage by CBS Minnesota.
Fentanyl’s Local Toll
County data and poison-control reports indicate that fentanyl has become the leading driver of opioid deaths in the Twin Cities. Public health officials have highlighted how lethal the drug can be when it is present in homes, especially around children, as outlined in an opioid response bulletin from Hennepin County. Separate reporting from the Star Tribune has documented prior cases of infants and toddlers in the Twin Cities exposed to fentanyl.
The Charge And What It Means
Sanchez-Cordero is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, a felony under Minnesota law. For culpable negligence, the offense can carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine. State homicide statutes define second-degree manslaughter to include causing a death through "culpable negligence" that creates an unreasonable risk of serious harm, according to the Minnesota code.
Prosecutors have requested a warrant for Sanchez-Cordero's arrest and say formal charges were filed after a review of the criminal complaint, according to local reporting. The case remains under investigation and in active court processing as the Hennepin County Attorney's Office and investigators determine next steps.
