Tennessee woman, Tiffany Marie Roberts charged with murder after premature newborn twins die from drugs in their system after expectant mom admits to narcotics abuse.
Just say no to drugs- when you’re pregnant. Sometimes easier said than done.
A Tennessee woman has been charged with murder after her premature twins were born with drugs in their systems only to soon die after birth.
Tiffany Marie Roberts, 29, of Chattanooga gave birth at TC Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga on Sunday, at only 23 weeks pregnant. Both preemies — who tested positive for ‘several narcotics,’ including cocaine — died two days later, only nine hours apart, according to ABC 9.
Authorities were called to investigate, with Roberts taken into custody later that day. She was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and viable fetus as a victim.
Pregnant Chattanooga mother: ‘I have a problem with drugs.’
Roberts had tested positive for ecstasy on the day she delivered the babies, and admitted to using the drug, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Tennessean.
The expectant mother had also tested positive for various drugs — including cocaine, oxycodone, roxicodone, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepine — during her pregnancy checkups on three different dates according to the arrest affidavit.
She allegedly told doctors ‘she has a problem’ with drugs, the affidavit noted.
‘Based on Ms. Roberts’ illicit drug use during her pregnancy, in conjunction with the medical records, the infants were subject to aggravated child abuse and neglect which later led to their deaths,’ an officer wrote in the affidavit.
Not immediately understood is why the expectant mother continued to use drugs knowing that her unborn children’s fate depended on her maintaining sobriety. Also not clear is what actions medics took on the three times the expectant mother turned up with drugs in her system leading up to childbirth….
