COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — It's been five months since the death of baby Jaxson Philius. His parents are now behind bars and facing murder charges after a high dosage of fentanyl was found in the infant's system, arrest warrants said.
Warrants show that police responded to the apartment on Godby Road on January 17. When officers got there, Jaxson was unresponsive.
His parents, Albadeau Philius and Shaquoria Stuarts, told police that they were sleeping in the bed with Jaxson and their 2-year-old son, according to warrants. Once their alarm went off at 9 a.m., Albadeau put Jaxson in his crib. Warrants said that's when he noticed blood coming from the 6-week-old's nose and he was not responding.
Warrants also stated that the last time baby Jaxson was seen alive was when Stuarts breastfed him at 4 a.m. that day.
A medical examiner did a reenactment with both parents, and it lined up with their story. That was until earlier this month when officers were told that Jaxson's death was being ruled a homicide, according to warrants.
A final autopsy revealed that fentanyl was found in Jaxson's blood, warrants stated. The records added that toxicology results showed the 6-week-old had 4-ANPP in his system--evidence of a designer opiod and byproduct of fentanyl, according to authorities.
Police say the medical examiner found so much fentanyl in Jaxson's blood that "such a high dosage would be fatal in adults" and could have possibly been "passed through breastfeeding."
Police questioned the parents on Monday about the infant's death. When asked about the drugs, Stuarts denied using them. She also said she did not give her baby any medication. Albadeau stated that he was unaware of drugs and never saw his wife do any, warrants added.
Both parents also told authorities that no one else was in the home with them when the baby died, according to warrants.
The Georgia Council for Recovery says mothers who do take drugs, either during pregnancy or after giving birth, are often too frightened to tell anyone and seek help.
“They just fear the stigma that they'll face in the community and it kind of sways them from seeking help," Demetra Boles with the GCR said. "The greatest challenge in mothers struggling with substance use disorder is the fear of stigma and reaching out, and how they'll be viewed. 'What led to the circumstances?' and 'What could become of the circumstances.'"
Boles helps connect mothers with peer coaches and other resources to help them get healthy.
"We support mothers who have a history of, or are currently struggling with, substance use disorder," she said, "we connect mothers to resources in the communities around them."
She has worked with nearly one thousand moms in the past five years and says she can understand firsthand some of the unique struggles parenting could bring.
“I myself am a mother who struggled with substance use disorder and recovery is possible. It's beautiful,” she said. "When you see a mother come into the hospital and she's struggling, and she's scared, and thinks there's no hope and she doesn't know what's going to happen next--then, when the peer coaches have the opportunity to meet and intervene, most mothers have beautiful outcomes, with them and their children. It's a very highly successful situation when they have the support that they need."
Boles said there are "Recovery Community Organizations" all over Georgia, as well as other resources, and "any of the peer to peer services, they're all free services. You do not have to pay, all you have to do is show up or call."
For mothers who may be struggling with addiction or drug use, there is a "Cares Warm Line" they can call that is answered by people with lived experience of substance use recovery. People can call or text 1-844-326-5400. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
"And I hope that they reach out to someone that they feel safe with," Boles said, "that will show compassion, and that they can trust, because that is so important to people seeking recovery."