Mom arrested after 3-year-old dies from methadone overdose

STAFFORD, Conn. (AP) - Police have arrested a 24-year-old Connecticut woman after her 3-year-old son died from a methadone overdose.

The Stafford resident was charged Tuesday with second-degree manslaughter, risk of injury to a minor and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The woman's son, Leon Lapierre, was found unresponsive at her home in April. The state medical examiner's office says he died of acute methadone intoxication.

The Hartford Courant reports state police believe the boy may have ingested the drug after it was left on a nightstand.

Methadone is used to help wean people off heroin. The arrest warrant states the woman was not issued a prescription for the drug.

She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.