South Florida mom charged after fentanyl, cocaine found in system of 18-month-old son after overdose death, FDLE says

A South Florida mother has been arrested in connection with the overdose death of her 18-month-old son earlier this year, state investigators said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) arrested Pearlandria Boujolly, 29, of Miami-Dade, on Aug. 20. She faces one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child under 18 years old.

The case began in the early morning hours of Jan. 3, when Miami Police and Miami Fire Rescue responded to a home after an 18-month-old boy was found unresponsive just before 4 a.m., according to the FDLE.

The child was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after, the FDLE said.

An autopsy by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Department found fentanyl and a trace amount of cocaine in the child's blood, according to state investigators.

FDLE's investigation determined that narcotics had been left in an unlocked room inside the home where the child was found. 

Investigators said the child accidentally ingested a small amount of the drugs. Boujolly was not inside the residence at the time, according to investigators.

Boujolly was arrested at her Miami-Dade residence and is being taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Detention Center in West Miami-Dade. More charges may be possible, investigators said.

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said the case reflects a broader focus her office has maintained on drug-induced homicides.

"It is a heartbreaking day when a child loses their life inside their own home due to a parent's recklessness and dangerous drugs left out in the open," she said.

The Miami Police Chief called the death "avoidable"

Miami Police Chief Edwin Lopez called the child's death an entirely preventable tragedy.

"This arrest sends a clear message: there is zero tolerance for negligence that puts an innocent child's life at risk," Lopez said.

The 18-month-old child died after having access to both narcotics and a firearm, according to investigators.

"This case hits home," Lopez said. "As a father of a 10-year-old and a 16-year-old, obviously as a police chief, anytime you have a child that dies due to the negligence of the parents, it is something that we have zero tolerance for."

Lopez, who credited his detectives and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement task force for their work on the case, called the death "avoidable."

"Parents really need to be aware of what they leave accessible to children," Lopez said. "Obviously, drugs are illegal. The fact that an 18-month-old loses their life should be an alert to every single person in our community."

The arrest was made through the South Florida State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication Task Force. This multi-agency unit includes FDLE, the Miami Police Department, and several other South Florida law enforcement agencies.

FDLE Miami Special Agent in Charge Michael Stein said the case underscores why the task force exists.

"When the deadly effects of fentanyl hit our communities, especially our children, FDLE and our partners are motivated, more than ever, to use every investigative resource available to hold everyone involved accountable," Stein said.

During a court hearing, the defendant, Boujolly, was appointed a public defender and held without bond. A defense attorney argued that the arrest form does not definitively state when the alleged victim obtained the fentanyl or cocaine.

However, a judge found probable cause for the charges, citing testimony that children were left unsupervised and had access to both narcotics and guns.