In a tragic case of neglect, 34-year-old T. Cavanaugh has been sentenced to 16 years following the death of her 4-month-old daughter in 2016.
Cavanaugh pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a Level 3 felony, after she admitted to co-sleeping with her baby while under the influence of multiple drugs.
On June 6, 2016, officers responded to a 911 call at Cavanaugh’s home and found her attempting to perform CPR on her unresponsive baby.
Despite resuscitation efforts, the infant was pronounced dead later that morning. At the scene, officers detected the smell of marijuana, and Cavanaugh displayed signs of intoxication.
She admitted to taking prescription drugs and co-sleeping with the infant.
Further investigation revealed that Cavanaugh had been warned repeatedly about the dangers of co-sleeping, including during a previous child welfare case in 2015.
A saliva drug screen and blood tests confirmed she had taken Hydrocodone and other substances at the time of the incident.
Cavanaugh was initially charged in 2017 but was not continuously in jail, having skipped a sentencing hearing in 2020 before being rearrested.
She was sentenced on September 18, 2024, to 16 years, with 14 years in prison and 2 years on probation. This case highlights the critical importance of safe sleep practices for infants.
