The Rancho Cucamonga woman was charged with felony child danger after the fentanyl in her possession led to the death of a 10-year-old boy, authorities said.
Nathaniel Castro Mendoza, also of Rancho Cucamonga, had an overdose on December 14th.
On March 12th, his family lamented what was his 11th birthday.
“We miss Nate in your whole heart and soul. We will keep your name and memory alive in everything we do as our little angel,” his mother, Mercy Castro, wrote on social media. “We love you Nathan, a happy heaven birthday.”
Two days later, 32-year-old Christina Alvarez was arrested in connection with his death.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office determined that Alvarez “owned and preserved fentanyl in the way that led to the death of the victim,” but did not disclose his connection to Nathaniel.
Alvarez was charged with intensifying intentional harm that brings risk and death to children. She pleaded not guilty on Tuesday and is in custody on $100,000 bail.
Sheriff’s deputies answered a 911 call about an unresponsive child in December in the 9000 block of Arrow Route in Rancho Cucamonga. They tried to save their lives, but it was later declared that Nathaniel had passed away.
In February, the San Bernardino County Coroner determined he had died of fentanyl and xylazine toxicity.
Xylazine, also known as TRANQ, is a powerful veterinary sedative that is often combined with fentanyl to enhance and prolong the effectiveness of synthetic opioids. Xylazine is not an opioid, so it cannot be reversed with overdose drugs such as narcan, which is particularly fatal.
In 2023, the US Drug Enforcement Agency issued a safe and secure warning about its dangerous effects when combined with fentanyl.
“Xylazine has become the most deadly drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl and even deadly,” said then-administrator Anne Milgram. “DEA seized a mixture of xylazine and fentanyl in 48 of the 50 states. The DEA Labotea System reports that approximately 23% of fentanyl powder in 2022 and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contain xylazine.”
Nathaniel’s funeral was held on December 27th. His family described him in his obituary as “a bright light in the lives of everyone who knows him” and “a boring and energetic boy” with a passion for baseball and soccer.
He was a fifth grader at Beargarchi Elementary School and a passionate member of his school community, they wrote.
“Nathan’s energy and joy were contagious and left an indelible mark on everyone he met,” they wrote. “His kindness and his spirit of adventure will be remembered forever.”
Nathaniel is survived by his parents Castro and Miguel Mendoza and siblings Christian Mendoza, Mark Gallegos and Miranda Gallegos.
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