Parents of boy who died from fentanyl exposure want accountability
Share this @internewscast.com


() The parents of a 10-year-old California boy who died from fentanyl poisoning say they believe their son may have been intentionally given the deadly drug, and they’re demanding stronger charges against the woman accused in his death.

Marcy Castro and Miguel Mendoza told ’s “Banfield” that they suspect Christina Alvarez, the girlfriend of Nathaniel Castro Mendoza’s uncle, deliberately poisoned their son in December. The couple cited the fact that multiple people lived in the house but only their son was affected.

“In my heart, I feel like maybe it was done purposely. Obviously, we can’t prove that,” Castro said Monday. “The only reason we feel that way is there was many other people in the household. And for some reason, only our son was affected by it.”

Nathaniel, who loved baseball, pro wrestling and “Captain America,” stopped breathing without apparent reason after eating dinner at his home outside Los Angeles in December. An autopsy found fentanyl and another drug in his system.

Alvarez was arrested in March and charged with felony child endangerment with an enhancement for willful harm resulting in death. Police said she “possessed and stored fentanyl in a manner that led to the victim’s death.”

The parents expressed frustration that prosecutors did not file murder charges. Miguel Mendoza said prosecutors explained “they weren’t able to prove certain things as far as the murder charge” and that child abuse with enhancement was “the best they can do here in California.”

Castro described her son’s final evening as seeming normal. Nathaniel came home from school, played outside, rode his scooter and ate shrimp that Alvarez had brought home from a restaurant. He went to bed and woke up once around 11 p.m. to use the bathroom before going back to sleep.

“Unfortunately, that was the last time Nathaniel was alive,” Castro said.

The parents questioned how only Nathaniel was poisoned when Alvarez claimed she and her two children also ate the same shrimp dinner. Alvarez had been out all day and brought the food home from a restaurant, according to Castro.

The family has launched a “Demand Justice for Nathaniel” movement that had garnered about 2,000 signatures. Castro said they want to “raise awareness, educate, advocate, protect” and “support families with similar tragedies and fight for accountability.”

Fentanyl is a legal opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin but is frequently abused and has become a leading cause of overdose deaths nationwide.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Unveiling the Mystery: How an Anonymous Tipster Solved the Brown University Shooting Case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A crucial lead from an anonymous tipster, who had…

Local Families Receive Holiday Food Boxes from Second Harvest

At the Greene County Fairgrounds, a significant event unfolded as the Second…

US Military’s Precision Strikes: 5 Alleged Drug Traffickers Neutralized in Eastern Pacific Operation

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives to brief members of Congress on military…

Governor DeSantis Proposes Toll-Free Highways: A Game Changer for Florida Drivers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a recent Cabinet meeting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis…

Miami Land Deal for Trump Presidential Library Moves Forward as Judge Dismisses Complaint

A Miami judge has ruled in favor of a college’s controversial decision…

Former North Carolina Governor and Education Reform Advocate Jim Hunt Passes Away at 88

RALEIGH, N.C. – Jim Hunt, the influential four-term governor of North Carolina…

Coast Guard Updates Policy on Controversial Symbols in Response to Concerns

On Thursday, references to hate symbols as “potentially divisive” were removed from…

UN Reports: Over 1,000 Civilians Killed in April Attack by Sudanese RSF at Zamzam Camp

CAIRO – A devastating assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary…

Romanian Court Imposes 9-Month Sentence on US Rapper Wiz Khalifa for Drug Possession

BUCHAREST – In a recent ruling by a Romanian court, American rapper…

Greeneville Barber Faces License Suspension Amid Allegations of Misconduct

In Greeneville, Tennessee, a significant development has emerged concerning a local barber…

Meadowview Resident Faces Serious Drug Charges: Held Without Bond

A Meadowview resident is currently detained without the possibility of bail following…

Ex-Letcher County Sheriff Faces Murder Charges: Latest Court Hearing Unveils Shocking Details

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, facing charges for allegedly fatally…