In the quiet, picturesque town of Napa, California, a community known for its rolling vineyards and serene landscapes is now reeling from a tragedy that has shattered hearts and ignited outrage. On August 15, 2024, the life of 3-year-old Zayden Schultz was cut devastatingly short, his small body succumbing to the deadly grip of fentanyl poisoning. What makes this loss even more gut-wrenching is the accusation that those entrusted with his care—his own parents—are responsible for his death. In a case that has sent shockwaves through Napa and beyond, 42-year-old Belen Marie Shroyer faces murder charges, while her co-defendant and Zayden’s father, 47-year-old Timothy Daniel Schultz, is accused of felony child abuse. This is the story of a preventable tragedy, a community in mourning, and a fight for justice in the wake of unimaginable loss.
The nightmare began with a frantic 911 call from a home in the 1600 block of Mary C Drive. Napa County Sheriff’s Deputies rushed to the scene, where they found young Zayden unresponsive, his tiny frame lifeless. Despite their desperate efforts to save him, the toddler was transported to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him dead. An autopsy and toxicology report later delivered the chilling truth: Zayden’s cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication, with 13 nanograms of the opioid per milliliter of blood—a lethal dose for a child so young. The revelation left first responders, investigators, and the community grappling with grief and disbelief.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has become a scourge across the nation, claiming countless lives in its wake. But to find it in the bloodstream of a 3-year-old is a horror that defies comprehension. Investigators uncovered traces of fentanyl and methamphetamine scattered throughout Shroyer’s home—on bedding, walls, clothes, and even in Zayden’s pacifier cases. The evidence painted a grim picture of neglect and recklessness. According to arrest reports, Shroyer admitted to using drugs, including smoking methamphetamine in the same bed where Zayden slept. She even confessed to possibly smoking fentanyl off a piece of foil found near her son’s body, a careless act that may have sealed his fate.
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley, a fierce advocate for justice, minced no words in addressing the tragedy. “The death of an innocent child is a tragedy beyond words,” she declared in a press release. “Our office is committed to ensuring accountability and justice for Zayden, whose life was taken far too soon.” The charges against Shroyer are severe: murder and child abuse, carrying the weight of a potential life sentence. Schultz, who had full custody of Zayden since November 2021, faces felony child abuse charges for failing to protect his son. Despite knowing of Shroyer’s drug use, Schultz continued to bring Zayden to her home, where poor living conditions and rampant substance abuse created a deadly environment.
Court records reveal a troubling history for Shroyer, with a dozen arrests between 2003 and 2019 for drug possession, identity theft, petty theft, and driving under the influence. During an interview with deputies after her arrest, Shroyer admitted that Schultz had caught her using fentanyl as recently as late July 2024. When confronted, she claimed she was using the drug to manage back pain—a hollow excuse that did nothing to absolve her negligence. Schultz, aware of her addiction, still left Zayden in her care, a decision that proved catastrophic.
The investigation into Zayden’s death is far from over. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office are meticulously piecing together the circumstances that led to this tragedy. Questions remain about how fentanyl entered the child’s environment and whether additional charges may be filed as new evidence emerges. For now, Shroyer is being held without bail in Napa County Jail, while Schultz’s bail is set at $1 million. Both are scheduled for arraignment hearings in Napa County Superior Court, where the community awaits answers and accountability.
In the wake of Zayden’s death, Napa has come together in grief. A makeshift memorial has sprung up near the family’s home, adorned with flowers, stuffed animals, and heartfelt messages for a boy whose smile will never again light up the world. Neighbors, many of whom knew Zayden as a bright and curious child, are struggling to process the loss. “He was just a baby,” one neighbor said, her voice trembling. “How could this happen in our town?”
Zayden’s death is a stark reminder of the growing fentanyl crisis sweeping the nation. This deadly opioid, often mixed with other drugs or disguised as counterfeit pills, has claimed lives of all ages, but the loss of a child so young underscores its insidious reach. Local authorities and child welfare advocates are sounding the alarm, urging families to safeguard their homes and seek help for addiction. “Just a tiny amount—less than a grain of rice—can be fatal to a child,” a Napa County health official warned. “We are begging anyone with access to fentanyl to keep it locked away and out of reach.”
As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus remains on justice for Zayden. His short life, filled with promise, was stolen by the very people meant to protect him. The Napa community, united in sorrow, holds its breath as the courts prepare to deliver a verdict that will honor the memory of a boy lost too soon. In the vineyards and quiet streets of Napa, Zayden’s story is a haunting call to action—a plea to end the devastation of fentanyl and ensure no other child suffers such a fate.
