Pa. parents arrested after child dies from exposure to fentanyl they called 'daddy’s medicine'

CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (TCD) -- The parents of an 8-year-old child who died from drug exposure face charges nearly a year after their son’s death.

According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, in the early hours of July 26, 2023, officers with the Coatesville Police Department responded to a home in reference to a child in cardiac arrest. Forty-year-old Holly Back led officers inside, where they observed 41-year-old Mousa Hawa performing CPR on his young son, identified by WPVI-TV as Hunter Hawa.

Police noticed the child had ashen skin and a blueish-purple tone to his mouth and ears. As officials attempted lifesaving measures, they found multiple crystalline baggies around the living room, as well as medication bottles in a bag on the floor.

Hunter Hawa was transported to a local hospital via ambulance, where medical staff pronounced him deceased upon his arrival.

According to the district attorney’s office, the home of the victim and the defendants was "littered with drug paraphernalia."

In a statement obtained by WPVI, Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said, "There was a box of literally hundreds of used heroin baggies that had been kept." The bags were all reportedly empty or had drug residue.

De Barrena-Sarobe continued, "What’s worse, with all the drug use signs around, they completely denied being drug users on the scene, which doesn’t help medical responders treat a child."

Detectives recovered cellphone messages from July 2023, revealing that Back and Mousa Hawa spoke about drug use. Hawa allegedly told investigators his son knew not to touch the drugs, referring to them as "daddy’s medicine."

Samples from the victim’s blood and urine later revealed he reportedly had cocaine and fentanyl in his system. A hair sample showed evidence of fentanyl, suggesting he had "additional exposure prior to July 26, 2023."

On June 4, the district attorney’s office announced the arrests of Back and Hawa on charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and other related offenses.

De Barrena-Sarobe said, "Parents have a sacred responsibility to care for their children. Day after day, these defendants prioritized easy access to drugs over the health and safety of their child, leaving deadly fentanyl within arm’s reach. It is inexcusable. And it is murder."