On January 14, 2022, 18-month-old A.B. was found unresponsive by her mother, Morgan Bassett, in their manufactured home near Lake Goodwin in Stanwood, Washington. Bassett had purchased counterfeit oxycodone pills (actually fentanyl) two days prior and had been smoking them in the home. Investigators found multiple blue pills stamped with "M30" in the bed where the mother and child slept together, alongside small pieces of candy. An autopsy revealed solid blue pill fragments in the toddler's stomach and a very high level of fentanyl in her blood, along with a low level of methamphetamine. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of death as acute fentanyl intoxication. Approximately 2.5 years later, in July 2024, Bassett was charged with first-degree manslaughter, facing 6.5 to 8.5 years in prison if convicted.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Both documents describe the child's death as a fentanyl overdose. The Herald article states: "the toddler died of acute fentanyl intoxication." The KING5 article reports: "The autopsy of the little girl found multiple solid blue fragments in her stomach contents and a 'very high level of fentanyl' in her blood." The child ingested counterfeit fentanyl pills.
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 mother left fentanyl pills accessible to her 18-month-old child in their shared bed. The Herald article states: "Bassett told police she would smoke in the bathroom or on her bed, while a man who was staying with her would watch A.B." Despite this claimed arrangement, the child ingested fentanyl pills that were left in the bed where the child slept, alongside candy, indicating a failure of appropriate supervision. The KING5 article notes that Bassett "told police that she ran out of pills and awoke to find her child cold and not breathing," suggesting the child was left unsupervised while the mother slept.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
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?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Both documents describe the child sleeping in a bed with fentanyl pills and candy. The Herald article states: "investigators saw a blue pill on top of a cheetah-print blanket on the bed where Bassett slept with her daughter... Under the blanket, they reportedly found more blue pills with 'M30' stamped on them. Detectives also found candy in the bed, alongside the pills." The KING5 article corroborates: "Investigators found small pieces of candy near the fentanyl-laced pills in the bed, highlighting the dangers for the child." The child's sleeping environment contained lethal drugs alongside candy.
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?
Morgan Bassett, the biological mother, was directly involved in the child's death. The Herald article states she "bought $100 worth of 'oxys'" and left them in the bed where she slept with her daughter. She was charged with first-degree manslaughter. The autopsy found blue pill fragments in the child's stomach matching the pills Bassett purchased and used.
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 Herald article states: "Last week, prosecutors charged Bassett with first-degree manslaughter." The KING5 article confirms: "A Stanwood woman was charged July 10 with manslaughter after her young daughter died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022."
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?
Both documents extensively describe the mother's drug use. The Herald article states: "Morgan Bassett bought $100 worth of 'oxys'... She smoked eight of them that day, using a straw to consume the smoke while burning the pills on foil with a butane lighter." The KING5 article adds: "Bassett eventually told police she smoked two to three 'little blue pills' in the morning and two to three that night before the child died." Investigators also found methamphetamine in the bedroom. Bassett "initially reported being clean for 18 months, but later acknowledged she was still abusing drugs."
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the text. First, there was a significant delay of approximately 2.5 years between the child's death in January 2022 and the filing of charges in July 2024 — the reason for this delay is not explained. Second, both documents note a broader pattern of child fentanyl deaths in Snohomish County: the Herald article states "Local authorities have recently been sounding the alarm about accidental fentanyl overdoses in young children. In one week in April, firefighters in Everett responded to three cases of children exposed to the dangerous drug, including a 13-month-old who died." Third, the prosecutor "didn't object to Bassett remaining out of custody while the case is pending," which is notable given the severity of the charge. Fourth, investigators found candy alongside the pills in the bed, with the KING5 article explicitly noting this detail as "highlighting the dangers for the child."
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