Baby Died From Fentanyl, Mother and Aunt Charged With Murder in Columbia County

A baby died from Fentanyl and Xylazine in her system in Columbia County earlier this year, according to a recently released toxicology report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office says the 13-month-old girl's mother, 31-year-old Mitra Ellzey, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with Murder. The child's aunt was already in custody on other charges.

An investigation began February 29 after Ellzey called 911 and reported that her child was not breathing. A Columbia County Deputy arrived at the home in the 2400 block of Jordan Drive in Appling around 1:20 am.

Ellzey was holding her baby when she met the deputy at the end of the driveway and he immediately began CPR. EMS arrived and transported the baby to Wellstar MCG where she died.

Ellzey told the deputy her baby had been crawling on the kitchen floor while she was cleaning her sister's house earlier in the evening. She said when she was finished, she picked up the child and they both went to bed.

Around 1:15 am, Ellzey said she awakened to check on the baby and noticed she wasn't breathing. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to get the child to respond, Ellzey called 911.

Ellzey told the responding deputy she noticed the baby had some white powder on her hands, but thought it was dust from the bottom of the cabinets she picked up while crawling on the floor.

On May 14, the GBI Toxicology report came back and revealed that the baby had Fentanyl and Xylazine in her system. The amount was more than enough to kill her, according to investigators.

A further investigation revealed that 38-year-old Deangela Belton had been renting the home and her sister, Ellzey, was living with her.

"After several interviews and search warrants, it was determined that Belton and Ellzey were both responsible for the illegal narcotics inside the residence," according to the police report.

Evidence was presented to the District Attorney's Office and the decision was made to charge both women.

Belton was already in custody on other charges and Ellzey was arrested Tuesday. Both have been charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

When the temperatures start rising in the CSRA, more and more people head to the water to cool off. And when you're spending more time near the water, it's important you know how to practice water safety to reduce the risk of injuries or drowning.

From local pools to the lake and river, there are many spots to cool down and enjoy the water around the area. And the beach isn't too far away either. No matter where you choose to take a dip to cool off, you want to make sure that everyone remains safe.

If you don't have a pool of your own, there are various public pools throughout the CSRA. Some of these pools are accessible by paying a fee each time you visit. There are other pools that will require membership. Here are a few spots to check out:

And many kids will get to enjoy some pool time at summer camps. Check out those camps HERE.

In addition to pools, the Augusta area has many places you can enjoy sitting by the water, boating, kayaking, and more.

There are various beach and recreation areas around Strom Thurmond/Clarks Hill Lake. You can boat, fish, hike, bike, and camp at some of these areas, like Mistletoe State Park in Appling, Elijah Clark State Park in Lincolnton, and West Dam near Clarks Hill, South Carolina.

Another "lake" to enjoy is Richardson's Lake Water Park and Outdoor Recreation Area, located at 919 Richardson's Lake Road in Warrenville, SC. They have sandy beaches, water slides, diving boards, and concessions.

In Augusta, you've also got the Rae's Creek Aqueduct on Augusta Levee Road. It's part of a park and features stone arches and has one of the best waterfalls in the area.

With so many places to enjoy the water, before go, make sure you're prepared!

When it comes to swimming, whether in a pool or in the open water, you should never swim alone. Ideally, having a lifeguard present would be best, but if there isn't one, at least have other people nearby in case of an issue. Swimming with friends is more fun anyway, and it's good to have people looking out for you and you can look out for them. In open water areas, the chances of having a lifeguard present is very low.

You should follow any posted signed wherever you swim, and never leave children unattended.

Regardless of swimming ability, it's recommended you always wear a life jacket when you're on a boat.  Life jackets should also be used with children and anyone who doesn't know how to swim. These life jackets should be U.S. Coast Guard-approved and appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity.

For the most part, you know what to expect with a swimming pool. But it's important that children and those with limited or no swimming abilities know the depth of the pool and the areas where it's more shallow. When it comes to open water, it's important to be aware of the risk for currents in a river or the ocean.

Also keep in mind that in new areas, you may not be aware of the depth.  This is important to know, and may be more difficult with unclear water. Open water also includes being aware of what may be beneath the water's surface, including vegetation and wildlife.

Diving into water that is too shallow could lead to injury or death. It's important to enter the water properly, and only jump or dive in where it's safe to do so.

Learning to swim can be extremely helpful in preventing water-related injury or death. Even basic swim lessons can teach water competency which includes entering the water, getting a breath, and how to stay afloat.

While knowing water safety can prevent some risks, accidents can still happen. If a drowning or pool-related accident occurs, knowing lifesaving techniques, including CPR could mean the difference between life and death. The American Red Cross offers CPR classes, and you can get details and find the next available class HERE.