On September 26, 2022, Asheville Police responded to Mission Hospital to investigate the reported overdose of 8-month-old Dani Harmon, who had been brought to the hospital earlier that day from Atkinson Street. The infant was pronounced dead three days later on September 29, 2022. An autopsy by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be complications from blunt force injuries to the head and fentanyl exposure, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. An arrest warrant indicated that the child's mother, Samantha Lynn Higgins, had placed the infant in an environment where the child had access to and contact with fentanyl. After an approximately 11-month investigation in partnership with the Department of Social Services, Higgins was arrested in August 2023 and charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony negligent child abuse. In March 2025, a Buncombe County jury found Higgins guilty of involuntary manslaughter but not guilty of child abuse, and Judge Jacqueline Grant sentenced her to 17 to 30 months in prison.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple sources describe the child's death involving drug exposure. The fatality report (NC_22_275.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Blunt force injuries to the head and fentanyl exposure." The Fox Carolina article states the child "died of an overdose." The Citizen Times article states the child "ingested or had contact with fentanyl, after the mother placed her daughter in 'an environment where the juvenile had access to and contact with' the drug."
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The Citizen Times article states that the mother "placed her daughter in 'an environment where the juvenile had access to and contact with'" fentanyl, per the arrest warrant. Allowing an 8-month-old infant to have access to and contact with fentanyl constitutes a failure of appropriate supervision, though the documents frame it more as environmental negligence than classic supervisory absence.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The cause of death includes "blunt force injuries to the head" and the manner of death was ruled homicide, indicating the injuries were inflicted by another person. The fatality report (NC_22_275.pdf) states: "Cause of Death: Blunt force injuries to the head and fentanyl exposure" and "Manner of Death: Homicide." While the specific mechanism of infliction (e.g., punching, striking) is not described, the homicide ruling combined with blunt force injuries implies that the injuries were inflicted rather than accidental.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
While the terms "shaken baby syndrome" or "abusive head trauma" are not explicitly used, the autopsy found "complications of blunt forces injuries of the head" and "sustained blunt forces head trauma" in an 8-month-old infant whose manner of death was ruled homicide. Blunt force head injuries in an infant ruled as homicide effectively constitute abusive head trauma, though the specific diagnostic term is not employed in the documents.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Samantha Lynn Higgins, was arrested, charged, and convicted in connection with the child's death. The fatality report (NC_22_275.pdf) states: "The child's mother, Samantha Lynn Higgins, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony negligent child abuse." Multiple news articles confirm she was the infant's mother and was charged and convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report (NC_22_275.pdf) states: "The child's mother, Samantha Lynn Higgins, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony negligent child abuse." Multiple news sources confirm the arrest and charges. The WYFF4 article further confirms the conviction: "the now 32-year-old was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Citizen Times article states that the mother placed her child in "an environment where the juvenile had access to and contact with" fentanyl. The presence of fentanyl in the child's environment — sufficient to cause the child's exposure and contribute to death — strongly implies the parent/caregiver had fentanyl in the home, consistent with substance use or possession. While no document explicitly states the mother was using fentanyl, the circumstances strongly imply parental substance involvement.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. First, the investigation took approximately 11 months between the child's death (September 29, 2022) and the mother's arrest (August 3, 2023), conducted by APD detectives in partnership with the Department of Social Services. Second, the jury delivered a split verdict in March 2025 — finding Higgins guilty of involuntary manslaughter but not guilty of felony child abuse — which is notable given that the ME ruled the manner of death as homicide with blunt force head injuries. The WLOS article (Document 6) quotes DA Todd Williams: "This is a heartbreaking case involving the loss of a young life, and we respect the jury's verdict." Additionally, there is a discrepancy in the child's reported sex: the official OCME record (NC_22_275.pdf) identifies the child as male, while the Citizen Times article refers to the child as the mother's "daughter."
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