In a distressing incident in Santa Rosa, California, a 35-year-old mother, Shaylynne Watson of Lake County, and her 54-year-old mother, Beverly Hansel of Santa Rosa, were arrested on Monday, July 14, 2025, after an 11-month-old baby girl was exposed to fentanyl at Hansel’s apartment. The incident, which occurred around 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at an apartment on Range Avenue, left the infant in critical condition, though she has since recovered after receiving medical treatment.
According to the Santa Rosa Police Department, Watson and her three children were visiting Hansel’s apartment for several hours on Sunday evening. While the older children were in another room with Hansel, the 11-month-old was on the floor of a bedroom with Watson nearby. At some point, the baby picked up a small white substance that Watson suspected might be fentanyl. Hansel, the child’s grandmother, promptly administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, to the infant. Despite this intervention, neither Watson nor Hansel sought immediate medical attention for the child.
It was not until after midnight, more than five hours later, that Watson took the baby to a local hospital for testing. The toxicology results confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the infant’s system. The baby was treated and has since stabilized, with authorities reporting that she is expected to make a full recovery.
Following the incident, Santa Rosa police executed a search warrant at Hansel’s residence on Monday. The search uncovered narcotics paraphernalia, pills, methamphetamine, and black tar heroin, further implicating Hansel in drug-related activities. Both women were arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. Watson faces one count of felony child endangerment, while Hansel was charged with felony child endangerment and additional drug-related offenses.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, poses an extreme risk, particularly to young children. Authorities emphasized the dangers of such substances in environments accessible to minors, highlighting the severity of the incident.
The Santa Rosa Police Department has not released additional details about the ongoing investigation or the current custody status of the infant and Watson’s other children. This case underscores the growing concern over fentanyl exposure in communities and the critical need for immediate action when such incidents occur.
