Crime & Safety
Ohio Mother Arrested After 17-Month-Old Dies With Fentanyl in System
Circleville, OH – An Ohio mother wanted in connection with the death of her 17 month old daughter has been arrested in Columbus, nearly two weeks after the child died and investigators discovered a fa
By Dylan Reeves · 2026-10-27T18:14:48.664Z
Circleville, OH – An Ohio mother wanted in connection with the death of her 17 month old daughter has been arrested in Columbus, nearly two weeks after the child died and investigators discovered a fatal amount of fentanyl in her system.
According to Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew O. Hafey, Brittany M. Stroud, 30, was taken into custody Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, by the Columbus Police Department on an outstanding arrest warrant.
Stroud was transported to the Pickaway County Jail without incident and is scheduled for her initial arraignment Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Circleville Municipal Court.
The arrest follows an investigation that began Oct. 13, when deputies and Scioto Township EMS responded to a report of a young child not breathing at a residence on High Street in Orient, Ohio.
Emergency personnel performed CPR before transporting the child to Nationwide Children's Hospital.
The 17 month old girl was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly before noon.
Investigators subsequently learned that a court order placed the child in the custody of her 52 year old grandmother, Tammy M. Stroud, and prohibited Brittany Stroud from having unsupervised visitation.
An autopsy performed Oct. 14 at the Franklin County Coroner's Office revealed that the child had a fatal amount of fentanyl in her system, according to the sheriff's office.
Detectives executed search warrants and recovered evidence from the residence.
On Oct. 16, authorities filed charges against Brittany Stroud, including first degree felony involuntary manslaughter, third degree felony child endangerment and fifth degree felony possession of a controlled substance.
Tammy Stroud was also charged with complicity to involuntary manslaughter, complicity to child endangerment and complicity to possession of a controlled substance.
The grandmother surrendered to authorities Oct. 18 and was subsequently given a $250,000 bond.
Sheriff Hafey credited detectives and cooperating agencies for their work in locating Brittany Stroud.
The investigation remains ongoing. Both women are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.