On February 1, 2024, two-year-old E'Mya Samuel was found unresponsive in her parents' bed in Tulsa, Oklahoma by her biological father, Eric Jones. She was administered Narcan, intubated, and transported to a medical facility, where she tested positive for fentanyl and benzodiazepines. Her mother, N'Jerin Samuel, was an active fentanyl user who crushed and snorted blue fentanyl pills throughout the day in the home. A crushed blue pill testing positive for fentanyl was found on the kitchen floor, and E'Mya's five-year-old sibling reported seeing E'Mya get into the mother's "blue nose medicine in the drawer." E'Mya died on February 3, 2024, after no brain activity was detected. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was anoxic encephalopathy due to probable fentanyl toxicity, with the manner of death ruled an accident. The mother was charged with second-degree murder and child neglect, and the father was charged with child neglect.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The fatality report states E'Mya "tested positive for fentanyl and benzodiazepines" and a "medical professional stated this was near death." The medical examiner's report found the cause of death was "anoxic encephalopathy due to probable fentanyl toxicity." The news article confirms "her 2-year-old daughter died of a fentanyl overdose."
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 news article reports that "the victim's 5-year-old brother said he saw his sister get into his Samuel's 'blue nose medicine in the drawer.'" The fatality report documents that the mother crushed fentanyl pills and snorted them throughout the day, and that crushed blue pill residue was found on the kitchen floor accessible to children. The mother admitted being high when she stored the remaining fentanyl and "didn't know where she put it." This demonstrates inadequate supervision where the child had access to lethal substances.
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)?
The fatality report documents a prior report from September 16, 2023, stating: "Sibling One was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), suffering from withdrawal symptoms due to Ms. Samuel's drug use." This constitutes prenatal substance exposure resulting in neonatal abstinence syndrome for one of E'Mya's siblings.
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?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies Eric Jones as the "Biological Father" and states he received a felony charge of Child Neglect by the Tulsa County District Attorney. OKDHS made a "Substantiated finding of Neglect/Threat of Death by Ms. Samuel and Mr. Jones to E'Mya." Sibling Four disclosed that "Mr. Jones takes the 'blue medicine' too." The news article notes that police "found texts between Jones and Samuel discussing her fentanyl use, as well as texts and photos on his phone associated with drug sales."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report identifies N'Jerin Samuel as the "Biological Mother" and states she received felony charges of "Child Neglect and Murder in the Second Degree in the Commission of a Felony." She admitted to using fentanyl, crushing and snorting pills throughout the day, and the fentanyl found in the home and on the kitchen floor was hers. OKDHS made a "Substantiated finding of Neglect/Threat of Death by Ms. Samuel" to E'Mya.
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)?
The fatality report identifies a prior report under "PRIOR INVOLVEMENT OF THE PRFC WITH OKLAHOMA DEPT. OF HUMAN SERVICES." On September 16, 2023, OKDHS received a report that the mother tested positive for fentanyl and Sibling One was in the NICU suffering from withdrawal symptoms. This was accepted as a Priority II Investigation. OKDHS made an "Unsubstantiated of Neglect/Threat of Harm by Ms. Samuel to Sibling One" and did not request a deprived petition, documenting the "children are currently safe with their parents."
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 states that on March 18, 2024, N'Jerin Samuel "received felony charges of Child Neglect and Murder in the Second Degree" and Eric Jones "received a felony charge of Child Neglect." The news article confirms that Samuel was arrested on April 1, 2024, and "is being held on a $1 million bond."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states that on February 6, 2024, "Sibling Three was forensically interviewed. Sibling Three disclosed that '…Daddy knocked mommy out.' Sibling Three punched hands together and said, '…Daddy did that to Mommy.'" This is a disclosure of domestic violence by the father against the mother.
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?
The news article states that "Jones has previous convictions for selling drugs." These are prior criminal convictions predating the current fatal incident and are separate from the child neglect charge arising from E'Mya's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Substance use by both parents is extensively documented. The fatality report states Ms. Samuel "admitted she would have fentanyl in her system. She admitted to last using an hour prior... She admitted that she used two pills a day... she crushed them up and would snort the pills throughout the day." Mr. Jones "tested positive for marijuana and alcohol" and Sibling Four disclosed that "Mr. Jones takes the 'blue medicine' too." The news article adds that police found texts and photos on Jones's phone "associated with drug sales."
Notable Details
Several substantive details emerge from the documents that highlight systemic failures and troubling behavior. First, OKDHS had prior involvement with this family just months before E'Mya's death: in September 2023, the mother tested positive for fentanyl and a sibling was in the NICU with withdrawal symptoms, yet OKDHS made an "Unsubstantiated" finding and documented the "children are currently safe with their parents," opting not to request a deprived petition. Less than five months later, E'Mya died of fentanyl toxicity. Second, the fatality report documents that after the initial interview at the hospital, "Approximately five minutes after the end of the interview, Ms. Samuel attempted to find a ride to pick her up so she could leave. Within approximately ten minutes after the interview, Ms. Samuel left E'Mya alone at the medical facility to wait for a ride home." Additionally, "OKDHS documented that neither parent was consistent at the medical facility, and they had to call them multiple times to get them up to the medical facility. Once at the medical facility, Mr. Jones would leave, and then Ms. Samuel ended up being kicked out due to being high and leaving the room repeatedly." Third, the news article notes that police "found texts between Jones and Samuel discussing her fentanyl use, as well as texts and photos on his phone associated with drug sales," contradicting Jones's claims of ignorance about Samuel's drug use.
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