On October 18, 2023, around 8:30 a.m., Fremont PD officers responded to a local Emergency Room on reports of a 23-month-old male child who was unresponsive and not breathing. The child had been driven to the hospital by his mother, Sophia Gastelum-Vera (twenty-six-year-old, Fremont resident), and other family members. The child was later pronounced deceased by a medical professional. Detectives from the Fremont PD Crimes Against Person(s) Unit responded to investigate the death.
The investigation revealed the victim was initially found unresponsive on the morning of October 18, 2023, inside the bedroom he shared with his mother at the family residence on the 4300 block of Gina St in Fremont, CA. As a result, multiple interviews were conducted, and a search warrant was served at the residence. During the search, Fremont PD Crime Scene Investigators located pieces of evidence (including items associated with illicit drug use) within the same bedroom that Gastelum-Vera and the child shared. Later, laboratory tests conducted on those items revealed the presence of fentanyl.
Electronic communication devices located in Gastelum-Vera's room revealed recent communications regarding fentanyl use and possession. Toxicology results confirmed the decedent had a high level of fentanyl in his system at the time of death.
On November 7, 2023, Sophia Gastelum-Vera was interviewed and arrested for Penal Code 187(a) – Murder. Gastelum-Vera was later booked into custody at Santa Rita Jail (Dublin, CA).
Detectives are still actively investigating this death. If you have information, please contact Detective Ryan Blanchet at 510-790-6900, or at [email protected].
Incident: Infant Dies from Fentanyl Exposure, Mother Arrested
Date of Incident: October 18, 2023
Location: 4300 block of Gina St in Fremont, Ca
Fremont Police Department report: #231018011
Media Contact: Det. Ryan Blanchet, [email protected]
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