attorney

Mom Poisons Toddler With Vicodin in His Sippy Cup, Bucks County District Attorney Says

Jennifer Clarey is accused of poisoning her 2-year-old son, Mazikeen Curtis. She faces criminal homicide.

What to Know

  • A woman from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is charged with causing her 2-year-old son's opioid overdose.
  • Laboratory testing found the presence of Vicodin in the boy's toddler sip cup, prosecutors said.
  • The mother tried to harm herself, police said.

A Bucks County mother faces a homicide charge, accused of poisoning her 2-year-old by putting the painkiller Vicodin in her son’s sippy cup.

Jennifer Clarey was held without bail Tuesday after being arraigned on criminal homicide charges, court records said.

Clarey, 42, placed the powerful painkiller into her son's drink cup, Mazikeen Curtis, causing him to overdose, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said at a news conference Tuesday.

“Plain and simple, this was murder,” Weintraub said.

Tulleytown police arrived to the boy’s Lovett Avenue home in Tulleytown on Aug. 25 to find him dead on a bed with no obvious signs of trauma. Clarey was taken to the hospital with was appeared to be self-inflicted injuries to her arms, county investigators said.

Toxicology tests performed by the county coroner found toxic doses of hydrocodone — sold as Vicodin — and diphenhydramine, which is sold over-the-counter as Children's Benadryl.

A search of Clarey's home turned up an Vicodin bottle and 4-oz. bottle of Children's Benadryl, police said. Both had their childproof caps on and were empty. The Vicodin, a count of 120 pills, was prescribed to Clarey, police said.

Testing on the boy's cup found the presence of hydrocodone, police said.

It is not immediately clear if Clarey has an attorney.

Contact Us