Inset: Rebecca A. Jordan (Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area in New York where Jordan and her son lived at the time of his death (Google Maps).
In a disturbing case that has shocked a New York community, a 43-year-old mother has been charged with the tragic death of her young son. Authorities allege that Rebecca A. Jordan administered a lethal dosage of Benadryl to her 10-year-old boy, reportedly in an attempt to manage his “behavioral issues.” This incident has led to her being charged with second-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and endangering the welfare of a child.
The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office detailed the incident in a news release, noting that deputies were called to a home on Route 146 in Halfmoon, approximately 20 miles north of Albany, around 9:40 a.m. on January 19, following a report of an unattended death.
After a thorough investigation spanning several months, Jordan was apprehended on April 15. Law enforcement officials assert that Jordan’s reckless actions resulted in her son’s death by giving him an overdose of diphenhydramine. This substance, known for its antihistamine properties and found in products like Benadryl, is believed to have caused the boy’s intoxication, as well as the aspiration of stomach contents and restricted breathing.
In addition to the manslaughter charge, Jordan is accused of concealing a bottle of the medication to obstruct its use in official proceedings. She has since been arraigned in Malta Town Court and is being held at the Saratoga County Jail as she awaits further legal proceedings.
Further coverage by NBC affiliate WNYT in Albany provided more context to this tragic case, highlighting the pivotal role that toxicology testing played in identifying the cause of the child’s death. Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby remarked on the unusual nature of the circumstances surrounding the incident, underscoring the gravity of the allegations against Jordan.
Reporting from Albany, New York-based NBC affiliate WNYT provided additional insight into the case, including the role toxicology testing played in determining the child’s cause of death. Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby told the station that the circumstances of the child’s death were highly unusual.
“It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s not something that we see regularly,” Eby said. “The toxicology reports and investigation yielded something that is unseen to most prosecutors and law enforcement personnel.”
Eby said the amount of medication given to the child far exceeded any appropriate dosage.
“The amount and the dosage here is far beyond what is even, what a reasonable juror would expect is appropriate for a parent in this situation,” he said.
Authorities said there is no indication the child requested medication to help him sleep. Instead, investigators believe the drug was administered in an attempt to manage behavioral issues.
“It was an effort to parent and deal with in a neglectful way, obviously, but to administer and to try to deal with some sort of perceived behavioral issues,” Eby said.
Sheriff Jeffrey Brown said the dosage was enough medication to kill an adult, and investigators believe it was given to make the child go to sleep, WTEN reported.
Authorities also determined that the drug’s effects led to the child aspirating stomach contents and experiencing impaired breathing, ultimately causing his death.
As investigators worked the case, Jordan allegedly attempted to conceal evidence by hiding the medication bottle, according to officials.
Brown called the case one of the most difficult his office handles.
“Child death cases are among the most tragic that we handle,” he said. “We will always be a deafening voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and I look forward to justice being served for this innocent boy.”
Jordan remains in custody at the Saratoga County Jail. Prosecutors said the manslaughter charge carries a potential sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison, with additional penalties possible for the evidence tampering charge.
