Mom charged with causing teen's suicide

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) - Muncie Police say a 16-year-old boy committed suicide using his mom's prescription medication. That mom is now behind bars.

Sabrina Howard, 40, of Muncie is charged with neglect of a dependent and causing suicide, both Class B felonies. Police say she knew her son had taken her pills, yet she did nothing about it until it was too late.

"I think she believes she is not responsible for his death. I think putting all the pieces of the puzzle together we came to the conclusion she was, and that's why she was arrested," said Muncie Police detective, Sgt. Linda Cook.

The mother and son lived together. A 911 call brought police and paramedics to their home on July 10.

According to the probable cause affidavit, early that morning Sabrina Howard confronted her son about her missing prescription pills. There were 56 pills in all — 20 Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication, and 26 Lortabs, a pain killer medication.

Howard told police her son denied taking the pills but described the teen as having "slow speech" and appearing "groggy." She said she even "warned her son" that what he consumed "could kill him."

The mom told officers her son went to sleep on the couch. She said she checked on him from time to time. Eight hours after the confrontation, Howard noticed her son had stopped breathing. That's when she called 911.

"I even asked her if it was my kid and I assumed he had taken that much quantity, he is going straight to the hospital to either get a drug screen or stomach pumped. She didn't have much response to that," said Cook.

The mom was well aware of her son's mental health. Police say In January she took the teen to the emergency room because he was acting suicidal. Doctors recommended checking the teen into a mental health facility. Police say Howard ignored the advice and took her son home. The Indiana Department of Child Services documented the decision.

“It's kind of a sad situation. This kid cried out for help. Mom didn't answer that cry for help. It may have been because of her drug lifestyle," said Cook.

Sabrina Howard admitted to police she was a street drug abuser. Her family members confirmed she used morphine.

Howard's arrest came two months after her son's suicide. Police say one reason for the delay is it took time for the toxicology and full coroner's report to be completed.