Philadelphia mother charged after 10-month-old son overdosed on animal tranquilizer, officials say

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 32-year-old mother from Philadelphia has been charged after her infant son overdosed on xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer, officials said.

Vanessa Hampton, from the Frankford section of the city, is charged with manslaughter and the possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Investigators said the death happened in South Jersey. According to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Medford Township police responded to a call for an unresponsive 10-month-old boy in November 2022.

The boy was taken to a Voorhees hospital and died a week later at CHOP.

The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide after the drug was found in the child’s system.

Xylazine, also known as the street drug tranq, is used in veterinary medicine as a sedative and is not approved for human consumption.

Hampton was taken into custody last week in Philadelphia and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey.