Florida Woman Faces Serious Legal Consequences Following Child’s Tragic Death
RIVIERA BEACH, FL — A Florida mother is facing negligent manslaughter charges after her 5-year-old son died from allegedly drinking apple juice contaminated with methamphetamine, according to court.
Heather Opsincs, 37, was arrested last week following the tragic death of her young son at the Sands Hotel in Riviera Beach, where the family had been staying. Police reports indicate the child consumed juice from a plastic apple juice bottle that authorities believe contained methamphetamine.
Tragic timeline of events
According to the probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred last Sunday while the boy was in the care of a babysitter. After drinking from the juice bottle, which had allegedly been left open in the refrigerator of Opsincs’ hotel room, the child began exhibiting severe symptoms.
Witnesses described the boy “shivering and shaking” before he “became stiffed” and his “head tilted down,” signs consistent with a toxic reaction. Most troubling to investigators was the allegation that Opsincs waited approximately one hour before calling emergency services after being informed of her son’s deteriorating condition.
Medical response and investigation
First responders provided immediate medical attention to the child at the scene before transporting him to a local hospital, where medical personnel were unable to save him. The Riviera Beach Police Department confirmed in a press release that the boy was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Toxicology tests revealed the presence of methamphetamine in both the mother’s and child’s systems, according to police documents. During their search of the hotel room, investigators reportedly discovered six methamphetamine pipes, additional drug paraphernalia, and two plastic apple juice bottles.
Legal proceedings underway
At a pretrial detention hearing last Friday, Judge April Bristow addressed the gravity of the allegations, telling the visibly emotional Opsincs that the details of the case were “pretty egregious.” Despite the severity of the charges, the judge set the bond at $100,000 with specific conditions.
If released, Opsincs must refrain from contacting two witnesses identified in the case and is prohibited from communicating with anyone under 18 years old, except her daughter.
Inmate records indicate that Opsincs remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail one week after her arrest. She is scheduled to appear in court again on April 22, according to court documents.
The case has sent shockwaves through the Riviera Beach community, highlighting the devastating consequences that can result from drug presence in households with young children.
Child welfare advocates have pointed to this tragedy as another painful example of how substance abuse can lead to unintended but catastrophic outcomes for the most vulnerable.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, including how the methamphetamine came to be in the apple juice container and whether other individuals might share responsibility for the tragic incident.