PORTLAND, Tenn. — A 1-year-old child starved to death while strapped in his car seat at a residence where his mother died of a drug overdose, according to autopsies performed in Tennessee. A 3-year-old sister—who tried to feed her baby brother for days—survived.
In a heartbreaking story, the bodies of Tiffany Spears, 32, and her infant son, Nicholas Crowder, were found in February at their home in Portland, which is about 35 miles northeast of Nashville, Fox News reported. The baby was discovered secured in the car seat that was left on a bedroom floor.
The discovery was made by a probation officer during a home visit. The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the tragedy.
According to the autopsy results, the woman had been dead for several days, authorities said. Tests showed her cause of death to be drug toxicity from methamphetamine and fentanyl. The 15-month-old boy died of starvation and dehydration. Both deaths were ruled accidental, Fox reported.
“It appeared the decedent’s sister tried to take care of the decedent for several days” since food was discovered around the baby’s car seat, the autopsy report noted.
The surviving 3-year-old was treated at a hospital, but is reportedly doing well.
