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Luz L. Saez, 32, of the 500 block of Lime Street in Lancaster, smoked the crack to “stay awake”, according to an affidavit of probable cause, but grandma found the infant under his mom on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
The infant's death was later ruled an accident from asphyxia due to co-sleeping, according to the coroner.
A crack pipe and crack cocaine were found by investigators searching Saez’s bedroom, as detailed in the affidavit. When he was born, the hospital found cocaine in his bloodstream, police noted.
The mom went on to tell the police she’d used crack the entire time she was pregnant and increased her drug use in the second half of the pregnancy. No reason for this was given.
She had been awake for two days before her mother found her asleep with his dead son, according to the affidavit.
Saez tested positive for cocaine during a voluntary screening with Lancaster County Children and Youth on Monday, Sept. 2.
Saez was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and involuntary manslaughter on Friday, Oct. 18, the police said in a release, and court records confirmed. She was denied bail out of safety concerns due to her history of drug abuse, according to her court docket.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled in front of Magisterial District Judge Joshua Keller on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
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