Mother Charged With Child’s Death in Aiken
An Aiken County mother has been charged with her child’s death in September.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office says 3-year-old Riley Scott died at Children’s Hospital of Georgia September 10 after being found unresponsive in her family’s home on Ellen Drive in Jackson.
Riley’s mother, 26-year-old Carolyn Scott of Aiken, has been charged with Homicide by Child Abuse now that an autopsy and toxicology testing revealed Riley had ingested meth and fentanyl. She was charged additionally with Unlawful Neglect of a Child, since her two other children, ages 4 and 8, were in the home.
The Warrant for Carolyn Scott’s Arrest
The warrant for Scott’s arrest reads, “Autopsy and toxicological analysis revealed her cause of death to be acute mixed drug intoxication of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine and her manner of death to be homicide. Naloxone (Narcan) was also found present in her blood indicating that she was administered the medication while she was still alive. Carolyn had knowledge about the dangers of fentanyl.”
Riley was found unconscious by her brother and mother when they tried to awaken her from a nap. Carolyn Scott told authorities she rolled Riley onto her back and noticed she was turning blue and had vomited. Carolyn’s mother, who was in the house along with the homeowner, called 911.
First responders performed CPR on Riley. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
What Investigators Found in the Home
Investigators said they found evidence of narcotic use in the home.
“There were uncapped syringes, foil and suspected drugs within reach of the minor child. The sheets and other items in the house tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl,” according to the warrant.
The warrant also says Scott had been keeping her children in deplorable conditions at the home in Jackson, adding there wasn’t even running water.
Scott was taken into custody Monday and is being held without bond in the Aiken County Detention Center.
