The death of Justin Soll and his wife Shannon’s baby daughter was a devastating loss for the Oregon, Ohio, couple.
Emilia died at just eight days old in February. In the weeks that followed, her grieving parents posted extensively on Facebook about the loss of their daughter.
Their photos and videos included a haunting image of a small urn holding Emilia’s ashes. But the posts did not reveal the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death.
According to authorities, Justin, 32, and Shannon, 29, allowed their daughter to die from cocaine intoxication at the family’s home in Oregon, Ohio.
Emilia had been exposed to such a significant amount of the drug that officials listed her cause of death as encephalopathy, or fatal brain damage.
Cocaine residue was also discovered on the infant’s pacifier.
Justin and Shannon pleaded guilty to manslaughter last week. They could each receive up to 11 years in prison when they are sentenced on October 30, according to the Toledo Blade.
The emergency began at around 4am on February 22, when Justin called 911 and reported that Emilia was no longer breathing.
Baby Emilia Soll lived for just eight days earlier this year, while her parents publicly mourned her unexpected death
Justin and Shannon Soll did not disclose that their daughter had suffered fatal brain damage after being exposed to cocaine in their home
A dispatcher instructed him to perform CPR as paramedics made their way to the family’s house.
Emergency responders took Emilia to Nationwide Children’s Hospital-Toledo.
Despite efforts to save her, the newborn died three days later after sustaining severe damage linked to cocaine exposure.
Soon afterward, Justin and Shannon began posting deeply personal messages about their daughter’s death on Facebook.
Exactly four weeks after his 911 call, Justin shared a photograph of a small pink urn decorated with a teddy bear on his Facebook profile.
“One month ago today we found you laying so peacefully,” the grieving father wrote.
“I’ll never forget the sounds i heard coming from your mother and me when they told us you had no pulse.. this is all we have left of you, footprints, ashes, and a lock of hair.
“We miss you so much baby Emilia. Watch over us as we try to move forward.”
Justin and Shannon Soll, pictured together, face up to 11 years in prison after admitting to the involuntary manslaughter of their daughter
Before his arrest, Justin Soll posted a personal photograph showing Emilia’s ashes, her hospital tags and a bag containing a lock of her hair
The photo of Emilia’s urn was accompanied by a deeply personal caption in which Justin mourned the death of his baby – while making no mention of his culpability for her death
Shannon Soll shared her own photo of Emilia’s urn, along with other mementoes of her late baby
In June, Shannon uploaded what she claimed was the first selfie since her daughter’s death four months previously
She accompanied the photo with a caption claiming the light had gone out of her eyes since her bereavement
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In May, Justin shared a photo of himself posing with a teddy bear made from Emilia’s old blanket.
It was designed to be the same length and weight as his late daughter at the time of her death.
‘Me and mommy will sleep with you every night in our hearts,’ Justin wrote.
‘This bear really hits dad in his feelings today.’
Justin shared a graphic post in June about ‘missing’ Emilia and how it was ‘so hard to forget finding her in bed and the panic that came so quickly.’
There was one final post from him in July, a flashback to two pairs of baby shoes with the caption ‘When we thought Emilia was going to be a boy. I love and miss you baby, keep watching over ur mother & me.’
On Shannon’s profile, the grieving mother made occasional comments about Emilia, interspersed with multiple posts a day about gambling and drug taking.
In June, Shannon uploaded what she said was the first selfie she had taken since Emilia had passed away, adding: ‘imo (in my opinion) the light in my eyes is forever gone.
The grieving mother, seen here in a post to her social media, made occasional comments about Emilia, interspersed with multiple posts a day about gambling and drug taking.
Late last year, Justin Soll shared his excitement at his wedding to Shannon ahead of Emilia’s birth
In July, Shannon took to Facebook to condemn a local blogger who shared news of her indictment over her daughter’s death
Her final post came a few days later, a collection of images of Emilia accompanied by the caption ‘you would have already been four months old yesterday. oh god how much i miss you.’
Anyone wondering why the couple had suddenly stopped posting about their late daughter would likely have been shocked by news that they had been indicted over her death in late July.
Originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, third-degree child endangering and fifth-degree cocaine possession, the pair struck a plea deal that saw them admit the manslaughter and drugs counts.
Shannon took to Facebook in July to condemn a local crime blog that shared news of her and her husband’s arrests.
‘Yall are spreading false information. I hope when everything comes to light in this case that you don’t post news without a trial or verdict first,’ she wrote.
Justin shared a photo of what he claimed was Emilia’s first smile on Facebook
Justin posed with a teddy bear given to them by a friend made from her blanket
The couple were both originally indicted on two counts involuntary manslaughter, third-degree child endangering and cocaine possession
Justin Soll and his partner Shannon are seen in their mugshots. They now face a lengthy separation
In court, it emerged that Lucas County Sheriff’s Office deputies who rushed to the scene to help Emilia that dreadful night in February had entered a home where her clothing and toys were mixed among drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The infant’s dad has numerous previous drug convictions and a disorderly conduct conviction related to his intoxication.
It is unclear if Justin and Shannon’s relationship will survive the lengthy spell apart behind bars.
Many locals outraged by Emilia’s entirely avoidable death say they wish the pair had been locked up long before they’d been able to bring their innocent victim into the world.
