Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Multiple sources confirm the presence of drugs in the infant's system. The C4CJ document (Matteo-Charlebois-.pdf) states: "Both the Defendant and the child had methamphetamines in their systems." The archived PennLive article states the forensic pathologist found "a low level of methamphetamine was found in the baby's blood that he said could have come from breast feeding or hand-to-mouth contact." Additionally, the mother asked EMTs to administer Narcan to the infant, which evidences concern about drug exposure. The PennLive preliminary hearing article states: "trace amounts of heroin were found in a pillow, bedspread and blanket taken from the infant's bassinet."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

The mother was the sole caregiver and was under the influence of drugs while caring for the infant. The C4CJ document (Matteo-Charlebois-.pdf) states she was "nodding off while feeding Matteo." The judge's opinion quoted in that document states: "The Defendant, as the sole caregiver for the child, cared for him while under the influence of methamphetamines and/or fentanyl." She admitted to snorting fentanyl at 1 a.m. and was found to be impaired when emergency responders arrived around 1:30 p.m. The PennLive preliminary hearing article states that a State Police corporal opined "she was under the influence when [he] arrived." The mother's incapacitation due to drug use while being the sole caregiver for a 3-month-old infant constitutes inappropriate supervision.

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

A witness, Natalia Solomon, reported to law enforcement that she saw the mother "strike the baby's head off a changing table, causing a red mark on the infant's head" (Sun Gazette article). The C4CJ document similarly states that the woman who called reported the mother "struck the victim's head off the changing table causing a red mark on the victim's head." However, the forensic pathologist testified that "there was no evidence of trauma" (archived PennLive article). While the allegation of inflicted injury was made by a witness and documented in official records, it was not corroborated by medical evidence.

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

The C4CJ document (Matteo-Charlebois-.pdf) states: "At the time of his birth, Matteo apparently was the subject of a notification to Pennsylvania's ChildLine related to parental substance use and possibly prenatal substance exposure." It also notes the Act 33 report references at birth: "methamphetamine (admitted to taking one Adderall that was not prescribed to [redacted]), marijuana." A referenced PennLive article is titled "Pa. infant whose death is under investigation was born with drugs in his system: prosecutor," further confirming prenatal substance exposure.

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

The C4CJ document (Matteo-Charlebois-.pdf) notes "early expressed concerns about risks associated with unsafe sleep" and that "co-sleeping was addressed numerous times" at the time of birth. The court document quoted in the C4CJ document states: "She had both drugs in the room where the child slept, syringes of meth under the baby swing, and a pillow in the baby's crib which tested positive for heroin particles." Furthermore, drug paraphernalia was found near the bassinet including "a glassine baggie on the floor next to the bassinet." The presence of illicit substances and paraphernalia in and around the infant's sleeping area constitutes an unsafe sleeping environment.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The fatality report (Q1.2022-8.pdf) states: "Lycoming County Children and Youth Services indicated the report on March 21, 2022, naming the victim child's mother as the perpetrator." The C4CJ document (Matteo-Charlebois-.pdf) confirms: "The infant's death was substantiated as physical abuse and the mother named as the perpetrator." The mother, Tallia Charlebois, was the sole caregiver and was charged criminally.

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report (Q1.2022-8.pdf) states: "The family was previously known to child welfare." The C4CJ document (Matteo-Charlebois-.pdf) provides extensive detail about prior child welfare involvement: "At the time of his birth, Matteo apparently was the subject of a notification to Pennsylvania's ChildLine related to parental substance use and possibly prenatal substance exposure." A general protective services case was opened and closed on 12/23/2021, with outreach services continuing thereafter. The mother was reported to be "avoiding scheduled home visits."

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The fatality report (Q1.2022-8.pdf) states: "At the time the report was indicated, the mother had been criminally charged." The Sun Gazette article confirms the mother was "charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia." She was arraigned the night of the infant's death. Although the manslaughter charge was later dropped, the mother ultimately pleaded no contest to endangering the welfare of children in November 2024.

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Substance use by the mother/caregiver is extensively documented across all sources. The fatality report (Q1.2022-8.pdf) states: "illegal substances were found in the home." The C4CJ document quotes the judge: "The Defendant admitted to being a drug addict who utilized fentanyl in the apartment she shared with the child." Multiple news articles document the mother admitting to snorting fentanyl at 1 a.m. on the day of death, and having a history of heroin use. The C4CJ document also references concerns at birth about "substance use by a parent/caregiver" and a "history of heroin use."

Several notable systemic and procedural issues are documented. First, Pennsylvania State Police responded to a welfare check at approximately 5:26 a.m. on the day of death after a witness reported the mother was under the influence and had struck the infant's head against a changing table, yet troopers determined the baby was "awake, alert and not in need of medical attention" and left the infant in the mother's care. Second, a CYS caseworker arrived at 10:30 a.m. for a scheduled visit and heard the baby crying but left a card on the door when no one answered. Third, when PSP later sought to extract data from the CYS caseworkers' work phones as part of the criminal investigation, caseworker Crystal Minnier reported she "accidently dropped her phone the night before and then ran it over with her vehicle" and a second worker's phone had "reset." The C4CJ document reports that "Lycoming County CYS was no longer willing to consent to the extraction of the data from the cell phones," requiring law enforcement to pursue a search warrant. These details raise significant questions about law enforcement response protocols, child welfare agency oversight, and potential obstruction of the criminal investigation.