Lubbock, Texas – A 33-year-old Texas man has been found guilty of manslaughter after admitting to repeatedly giving his 2-month-old daughter Benadryl to make her sleep, ultimately leading to her death.
Baby Dies from “Mixed Drug Toxicity”
Adam Canales was arrested in January 2022 after his infant daughter died from mixed drug toxicity, according to an autopsy report. The cause of death was attributed to Benadryl, ZzzQuil, and dextromethorphan, a children’s cold medicine, which were repeatedly given to the baby in an attempt to make her sleep.
Canales admitted to police that he knew Benadryl wasn’t safe for infants but continued to give it to his daughter because he wanted her to sleep, according to court records.
“I know you’re not supposed to give Benadryl to infants, but I gave it to her to make her sleep,” Canales told police.
Parents Regularly Dosed Baby for Sleep
During the trial, Lubbock County District Attorney Sunshine Stanek stated that the parents had regularly dosed their infant daughter with medication to induce sleep, including Benadryl and other drugs like ZzzQuil. Stanek added that Adam Canales wanted the baby to sleep so he could have “quality time” with his wife, Sarah Canales, who was away from the home at the time of the baby’s death.
Defense Claims Lack of Communication
Kristopher Mincey, Adam Canales’ defense attorney, argued that the couple had not communicated clearly about who was administering medications to the baby and when. He added that there was “a lot going on in the home” at the time, and suggested that the events leading to the baby’s death were not intentional.
However, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, finding Adam Canales guilty of manslaughter.
The Day of the Incident
On July 11, 2021, Adam Canales told deputies he had put his daughter in a rocker after feeding and swaddling her three hours earlier. When he woke up from his nap, she was unresponsive. Deputies arrived to find the baby dead at the home.
Conclusion
Adam Canales is now awaiting sentencing for manslaughter, while his wife, Sarah Canales, faces similar charges with her trial still pending. The tragic case has raised concerns over the dangers of administering medications to infants without medical supervision and the devastating consequences of negligence.
What do you think about the case? Should the parents face harsher penalties? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
