A 31-year-old Lewis County woman is facing homicide charges after her 3-month-old infant daughter died with methamphetamine in her system, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Elizabeth Simpson, of Mineral, was arrested for controlled substance homicide on Thursday, Nov. 6, at her home on Pleasant Valley Road. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail, where she was still being held on Friday. She was scheduled to make her first appearance in Lewis County Superior Court at 4 p.m. Friday.
Detectives began investigating the infant girl’s death after she was transported to a hospital from the Pleasant Valley Road home on Wednesday, Oct. 22, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
“During the following investigation and autopsy, fluids were collected from the deceased for scientific testing,” according to the sheriff’s office. “When the results came back, they showed the presence of methamphetamine in the infant’s system.”
Detectives returned to the home with a search warrant on Thursday. Additional evidence was collected and Simpson was taken into custody.
“Prior to detectives departing, the other children living in the home were taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services,” the sheriff’s office stated.
The case remains under investigation. No other details were released. The Chronicle is waiting to review the probable cause affidavit by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, which will include details of the investigation and evidence used in the charging decision.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286 or Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.
