Miami-Dade County authorities this week arrested Natalia Munoz, a 25-year-old woman charged with aggravated manslaughter and gross child neglect following the July 2024 death of her 9-month-old son.
An autopsy revealed that the baby had lethal levels of methamphetamine and cocaine in his system, which led to the reopening of the investigation and his subsequent arrest.
Natalia Muñoz is accused of baby’s death
According to the police report, emergency services responded on July 15, 2024 to a call for help at a residence in southwest Miami.
Upon arrival, they found the baby unconscious and without vital signs.
He was rushed to Kendall Regional Medical Center, where doctors confirmed his death minutes after his admission, according to the police report broadcast by Telemundo.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s report determined the cause of death to be acute methamphetamine and cocaine intoxication.
The concentrations detected in the blood were well above the levels considered lethal for an adult, confirming the seriousness of the poisoning.
During the investigation, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) officers found drug residue on several household surfaces and everyday items, including baby bottles and milk preparation utensils.
According to the court report, investigators also located drug paraphernalia inside the home, suggesting an environment of prolonged exposure.
Prosecutors indicated that Natalia Muñoz had been consuming narcotics in the presence of the child, and that accidental contamination – through contact or breast milk – could have been the mechanism of intoxication.
Charges and legal proceedings
Natalia Muñoz faces charges of second-degree murder and child neglect resulting in death, both felonies under Florida law.
She was arrested Monday at her home and transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where she is being held without bail pending her preliminary hearing.
The case is being prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, which called the incident “one of the most devastating incidents of negligence recorded in the area in recent years.”
Local authorities took advantage of the case to remind people of the risks of drug use in homes with minors.
In a statement, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) noted that deaths related to exposure to illegal substances in infants and young children have increased by 20% in the last year, especially in downstate counties.
“Any exposure, even minimal, can be fatal to an infant,” warned DCF.
The death of Natalia Muñoz’s baby has reignited the debate over the lack of follow-up for families with a history of substance abuse and the need to strengthen early intervention programs in South Florida, where methamphetamine and cocaine use continues to rise.
Muñoz’s trial could begin in early 2026, according to the preliminary court calendar.
