In a tragic turn of events, an 8-year-old Kentucky boy, initially believed to have died from an allergic reaction to strawberries, was actually killed by a fentanyl overdose, authorities have revealed. The boy's family had initially suspected that the strawberries, purchased from a school fundraiser, were the cause of his sudden illness, which presented as a rash.
The Madisonville Police Department and the Hopkins County Coroner's Office have confirmed that the cause of death was "fentanyl intoxication." The boy's stepfather, Antonio M. Person, 33, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the boy's death.
Person, who was living in the same house as the boy, was also charged with drug trafficking and illegal gun possession after police found fentanyl and a firearm in the home. He is currently in custody at Hopkins County Jail on a $1 million bond for the manslaughter charge.
The boy, identified as Trey Major Harris, developed a rash after eating the strawberries. His family administered Benadryl and soaked him in a bath at home, but his condition did not improve. They took him to the emergency room, but brought him home several hours later. He died the next morning on March 15.
The incident prompted the county's health department to issue an advisory to dispose of the strawberries sold at the high school fundraiser. However, after testing samples of the strawberries, the Food and Drug Administration declared them safe to eat.
An obituary for Trey remembered him as a child who "left an indelible mark on all blessed to know him." He was described as having "special interests in baseball, basketball, skateboarding, and football" and loved riding his four-wheeler. He had dreams of becoming a police officer because he loved helping others.
The tragic incident underscores the growing menace of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has been responsible for a mounting death toll across the country. In 2022, fentanyl became the most common cause of accidental drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County, surpassing methamphetamine, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
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