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Father charged in baby’s fatal opioid overdose

1 min read

A father from San Jose has been charged in the deadly opioid overdose of his baby daughter. 

According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the three-month-old baby was found in an apartment “littered with opioids.”

The autopsy showed the baby, named Phoenix, died from ingesting methamphetamine and fentanyl. 

The baby’s father, David Anthony Castro, 38, was charged with felony child neglect and possession of a controlled substance. 

Castro is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday. 

If convicted, he faces time in prison.

“I can’t fathom how a parent could recklessly cause the death of their own child,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “What I fully understand is our responsibility to hold that person accountable for this heartbreaking tragedy.”

On May 13, 2023, officers responded to a home on Spinnaker Walkway and found baby Phoenix unconscious. 

Police said fentanyl, broken glass pipes, and aluminum foil were found in the apartment’s kitchen area. 

Officers also found a baby bottle filled with liquid next to the glass pipes on the kitchen and Narcan, a drug used to revive people from fentanyl overdoses. 

Shortly after, Phoenix was pronounced. 

The infant’s mother also died of an overdose last month. 

Charlene

Charlene is a Bay Area journalist who hails from the small community of Fresno. Drawing from her experience writing for her college paper, Charlene continues to advocate for free press and local journalism. She also volunteers in all the beach cleanups she can because she loves the water.