Mansfield father accused in fentanyl poisoning death of 2-year-old daughter

Mansfield police are attributing the tragic death of a two-year-old girl to fentanyl poisoning, and her father, Michael Ray Reed, 26, along with her aunt, are facing blame for their delayed response to the potential overdose.

The young girl, Nevaeh Reed, had a promising future, described by her mother, Stephanie Wallace, as joyful and full of potential. However, her life came to a heartbreaking end during a visit to her father’s home in Mansfield in February.

According to reports, Nevaeh’s father, Michael Reed, was found with his daughter unconscious and struggling to breathe at their apartment on February 18. Police discovered drug paraphernalia, including pills containing fentanyl, at the scene. Despite the dire situation, Reed and his sister, Jamie Popovic, failed to immediately call 911 and instead attempted to induce vomiting and sought an opioid-reversal drug via a food delivery app.

Tragically, Nevaeh passed away after being on a ventilator for ten days. Toxicology results confirmed the presence of a lethal dose of fentanyl in her system.

Reed is facing charges for failure to seek help and failure to safeguard fentanyl, while Popovic is charged with abandoning/endangering a child. Both individuals have been released on bond.

Wallace, grieving the loss of her daughter, is calling for justice and urging parents to be vigilant about the dangers of leaving drugs accessible to children.

Dr. Julie Gaither, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, conducted research on fentanyl-related pediatric deaths, revealing a significant increase in fatalities attributed to the drug since 2013.