Rebecca A. Jordan, a 43-year-old mother from New York, faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and other felonies after allegedly giving her 10-year-old son a fatal dose of Benadryl. The boy died on January 19 in their Halfmoon home, prompting a months-long investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. Authorities arrested Jordan on April 15.
Saratoga County deputies responded to a report of an unattended death at around 9:40 a.m. on January 19 at a residence on Route 146 in Halfmoon, about 20 miles north of Albany. The 10-year-old boy had died from intoxication caused by an excessive amount of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, leading to aspiration of stomach contents and restricted breathing, investigators determined through toxicology reports. Officials believe Jordan administered the drug to manage the child's behavioral issues, not at his request and in a dosage far exceeding any appropriate level for a child—or even an adult, according to Sheriff Jeffrey Brown, who noted it was enough to kill an adult and was given to make the boy sleep. She also allegedly hid a bottle of the medication to tamper with evidence during the probe. Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby described the case as a highly unusual tragedy. > It's an absolute tragedy. It's not something that we see regularly. The toxicology reports and investigation yielded something that is unseen to most prosecutors and law enforcement personnel, Eby said. > The amount and the dosage here is far beyond what is even what a reasonable juror would expect is appropriate for a parent in this situation. Sheriff Brown called child death cases among the most tragic his office handles and vowed to seek justice for the boy. > We will always be a deafening voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and I look forward to justice being served for this innocent boy, Brown said. Jordan was arraigned in Malta Town Court and remains in custody at Saratoga County Jail. The manslaughter charge carries a potential sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison, with additional penalties possible for evidence tampering.