MCKINNEY, Texas — A 24-year-old woman from Collin County has been sentenced to 10 years of probation following her conviction in the fatal fentanyl poisoning of her 8-month-old daughter. The jury reached its decision after five hours of deliberation.
Mary Alice Locke was found guilty of first-degree injury to a child in the tragic case, which marks the first known instance of a baby dying from fentanyl exposure in Collin County. Her sentence could have ranged from probation to 99 years in prison.
In the courtroom, Locke shared an emotional moment with her attorney and supporters after the sentence was announced. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis emphasized the importance of accountability in the case, stating that while nothing can restore baby Elizabeth, the guilty verdict serves as a commitment to protect children from such dangers.
During her trial, Locke openly admitted to struggling with addiction. She testified that she had been smoking opioids with the child’s father when her daughter was found unresponsive in the crib of their Allen apartment earlier this year. Despite efforts to revive the infant at a hospital, Elizabeth died from fentanyl exposure.
Locke has been described as the first known mother in the area to face charges related to a child’s death caused by this potent opioid. Prosecutors pursued charges against both her and the baby’s father, who is still awaiting trial and chose not to comment after the hearing.
Locke expressed feelings of remorse, acknowledging her accountability while also stating that she is now clean and sober. The child’s grandfather, Bianco Whitener, responded to the sentencing by expressing his acceptance of the verdict despite wishing for a harsher outcome. “There are no winners in this,” he reflected, emphasizing the tragedy of the situation.
As the community continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, the case serves as a haunting reminder of its devastating effects on families.
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