Toddler dies after man takes drug, falls asleep on the child
A Beaver County man fell asleep on top of a 2-year-old boy Saturday after taking an unprescribed narcotic and unintentionally smothered the child to death, according to Freedom police.
Ty Michael Lucente, 37, of Freedom, faces a single count of homicide in the death of his girlfriend’s son, Michael Darroch, according to a criminal complaint.
Mr. Lucente was watching the toddler and three other children Saturday at his home in the 200 block of Fifth Avenue in Freedom, according to police.
He told officers he took illegally purchased Suboxone — a narcotic often used to treat opioid addiction that can create a high in some people — and then fell asleep on the couch.
Mr. Lucente, who is 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, said he woke up later and discovered Michael was directly under- neath him and unresponsive. He called 911 about 4:40 p.m., but first responders were unable to revive the toddler.
Mr. Lucente was a father figure to Michael even though he was not the toddler’s biological father, Michael’s mother, Alanna Darroch, said Tuesday.
“He met Mikey when he was 2 months old and he fell in love with my son,” Ms. Darroch said. “He would never in a million years intentionally hurt my son. He taught him how to walk and talk and spent guy time with him working on the car and taught him so much.”
Michael, who would have turned 3 in June, was a happy child who loved cuddling and playing with toy cars and semitrucks, she said.
“It was truly an accident, and although I am angry, I still love my fiance and will stand by his side because I know it is killing him inside,” Ms. Darroch said. “He loved my son so much and always wanted a son.”
Mr. Lucente was booked into the Beaver County Prison and denied bail. He did not have an attorney listed in court records.