Mom Trying to Cure Toothache Allegedly Gave Daughter Fentanyl, Killing Girl

A Missouri woman is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of her 14-year-old daughter last month. 

Jacquelyn Renee Powers faces a charge of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and death of a child after her daughter died from an alleged fentanyl overdose on Oct. 3, in St. Louis County, Mo., according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

Investigators allege in the affidavit that on that day, the child was complaining about a toothache, and Powers gave her a “pill” that she “found in her drawer.”

Powers allegedly told police she thought it was an oxycodone from her own supply she had from a previous surgery.

Her child was found dead about 10 hours later, per police. 

An autopsy determined that the victim died from fentanyl overdose. She tested negative for oxycodone. 

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During the investigation, Powers allegedly told police that she had “traded” oxycodone to her mother in exchange for pills her mother had bought on the streets, per the affidavit. This, she told police, was an attempt from her to “‘protect’ her mother from dangerous pills,” the affidavit states.

The affidavit doesn’t specify if police believe Powers gave her daughter pills she claimed she got from her mother. It also doesn’t specify if Powers was aware of what drugs she allegedly got from her mom.

Online court records did not indicate attorney or plea information as of Wednesday afternoon.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.