Santa Rosa parents sentenced in toddler daughter’s death from fentanyl exposure

Two young parents from Santa Rosa were sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in prison in the death of their 15-month-old daughter who died two years ago after being exposed to fentanyl.

Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Robert LaForge sentenced Evan Frostick and Madison Bernard during an emotional hearing attended by friends and family who fought back tears.

Both defendants read statements emphasizing they loved their daughter, Charlotte, and took responsibility for her death on May 9, 2022.

“There are so many things I wish I could do differently and fix, but I can’t,” Bernard said as she fought back tears. “... I’m so sorry I let her down.”

In his statement, Frostick said he “failed miserably” at protecting his daughter and, “I want to say sorry from the very bottom of my heart.”

They were scheduled to face a jury beginning last month on charges of murder and child endangerment. Instead they pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter.

Charlotte died from “acute fentanyl intoxication,” according to an autopsy report released by the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office.

Investigators believe she ingested the fentanyl by touching it and then possibly putting her hands in her mouth or touching her eyes.

An investigation began May 9, 2022, after Bernard contacted authorities to report her child was unresponsive at their apartment on Sonoma Avenue.

The toddler was later pronounced dead at Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa.

Investigators have said they discovered evidence of fentanyl on the bed where the family slept. It was among about 2.7 grams of the opioid found in the apartment.

During a preliminary hearing in April 2023, investigators testified Frostick and Bernard admitted to using fentanyl and that Frostick purchased the opioid at least as far back as March 2020.

Bernard and Frostick were arrested the same day their daughter died, but authorities released them days later pending further investigation into Charlotte’s cause of death.

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against the pair Aug. 4, 2022.

Both were ordered to appear in court. Frostick showed up but Bernard did not. LaForge later explained he was advised she had tested positive for COVID-19.

The case brought new attention on a matter that North Bay lawmakers and law enforcement officials have been tackling in recent years.

Fentanyl exposure had been linked to at least one previous death involving a Sonoma County toddler.

In September 2019, fentanyl was blamed for the deaths of Patrick O’Neill, 29, and his 13-month-old son, Liam, who were discovered at their Santa Rosa home on Darek Drive.

Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Thomas Gotshall said Tuesday there was no doubt Frostick and Bernard loved Charlotte.

He stressed, however, their actions were the cause of her death.

“Charlotte’s death is the absolute worst-case scenario of the abuse of this drug,” Gotshall told LaForge.

The judge said little outside of issuing his sentence, only calling the matter “sad” and wishing Frostick and Bernard luck in their efforts to improve their lives in the future.

The latter said she plans to take college courses and substance abuse classes. She wants to eventually become a therapist or counselor helping victims of sexual abuse or family facing matters similar to hers.

“Now that I’m a convicted felon, I’ll have to work 10 times harder to have a normal life,” Bernard said.

Editor’s note: An earlier online version of this story’s photo captions incorrectly stated the couple pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter.

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi