Insets: Justin Soll and Shannon Wester (Lucas County Jail). Background: The 2900 block of Luverne Avenue in Oregon, Ohio, where the couple’s newborn died from cocaine toxicity (Google Maps).
An Ohio couple has been sentenced to prison after their 8-day-old daughter died from cocaine toxicity, with investigators finding bottle nipples and drug-related items near bags of white powder.
Justin Soll, 32, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a sentence of 10 to 15 years in prison in connection with the death of Emilia Soll. The baby’s mother, Shannon Wester, also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced Oct. 30 to between 5 and 7 1/2 years behind bars.
According to local CBS affiliate WTOL, police were called around 4 a.m. Feb. 22 to a residence in the 2900 block of Luverne Avenue in Oregon, near Toledo, after receiving a report that a newborn was not breathing.
Wester told authorities she had fed Emilia, who was then 5 days old, roughly two hours earlier before laying her on a pink pillow on the floor. Soll said he later woke up and found the baby unresponsive. He called 911 and attempted CPR until emergency medical crews arrived.
Paramedics found Emilia pale and vomiting. She was taken to a hospital, where she died three days later.
Police investigating the home discovered pacifiers and bottle nipples near bags containing white powder.
The Toledo Blade reported that Emilia’s cause of death was cocaine toxicity. The parents and infant had been staying in the basement of Wester’s parents’ home.
“The bedroom was riddled with numerous drug paraphernalia and cocaine,” prosecutor Samantha Crist told the court, according to the Blade. “There were a lot of drugs in a very small room.”
In a letter read aloud by his attorney, Soll expressed deep remorse and acknowledged that he had battled addiction for years.
“I should have sought help before she was born. I failed to put her needs before my own,” he wrote.
After Emilia’s death, Soll said he and Wester went on “benders that we hoped would kill us,” according to the letter.
Judge Joe McNamara told Soll that he had failed to protect his daughter.
“You’re a danger to the community when you’re using,” the judge said, according to the Blade.
During Wester’s sentencing, McNamara said Emilia should never have been brought into the basement.
“That was not a safe place for your child to be,” the judge said.
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