Tragedy Strikes Norco as Infant Dies of Suspected Fentanyl Overdose, Mother Arrested for Murder
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Norco, California – On May 9, 2023, at around 3:30 pm, deputies from the Norco Station received a report of a juvenile medical emergency at the 100 block of 8th Street in Norco. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered a 17-month-old girl who was not breathing. Despite their efforts, the infant was unresponsive and was later pronounced dead.
The investigators from the Jurupa Valley Station, who believed the death to be suspicious, were immediately contacted. The Central Homicide Unit was summoned to take over the investigation. During the course of the investigation, the evidence obtained indicated that fentanyl had played a role in the infant’s death.
On Tuesday, May 10, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of the victim’s mother, Jennifer Johanna Allen, a 32-year-old resident of Norco. She was taken into custody on Monday, May 9, 2023, following the death of her daughter. Allen is currently being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, California, on charges of murder.
The investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information regarding the case is urged to contact Investigator Adams of the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955–2777.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is prescribed to treat severe pain, but it is also used illegally as a recreational drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl is responsible for the majority of opioid overdose deaths in the United States. Overdoses from fentanyl have become increasingly common in recent years.
This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the community of Norco, and residents are expressing their condolences to the family of the victim. The Sheriff’s Department is urging anyone who knows anything about this incident to come forward and share their information.
For media inquiries regarding this incident, the Sheriff’s Department asks that you contact the Media Information Bureau. The department will release more information as it becomes available.
