Briana Arnold, Burlington, Vermont woman wanted for drowning death of 3 month old baby daughter while mom was high on narcotics, including fentanyl.
Vermont authorities are seeking the whereabouts of a Burlington area mom alleged to have allowed her 3 month old baby daughter to drown in a bathtub while being high on drugs.
Briana Arnold, 34, is wanted on charges of manslaughter and cruelty to a child with death resulting. She is also wanted on drug possession charges – investigators allege that Arnold, while under the influence of narcotics, left her infant child in a filling bathtub, which resulted in the child’s death.
The arrest warrant for the mother follows the October 4, 2024 drowning of three-month old girl, Sapphira Sanchez, who was reported drowned in the bathtub of a home in Burlington.
Burlington, Vermont mom calls 911 to report 3 month old daughter drowning
On the day of the baby toddler’s drowning, Arnold called 911 to report that her infant was drowning. According to the original press release, Arnold tried to revive the child using CPR, with responders taking over when they arrived, but to no avail.
After the child’s death, the case was referred to CUSI and investigators executed a search warrant on the residence, according to the Vermont Daily Chronicle. Investigators found fentanyl in Arnold’s home.
Investigators also managed to obtain a sample of the defendant’s blood in order to perform a toxicology test. That test turned up the presence of benzoylecgonine, fentanyl, norfentanyl and methadone, police say.
Over time, the law enforcement narrative came together.
While under the influence of various narcotics, Arnold left her daughter alone in a bathtub as it was filling with water, police claim. An arrest warrant for the mother was signed more than two months ago according to Burlington, VT authorities.
Arrest warrant issued for drug addict mom
Authorities said that investigators had recently contacted Arnold by phone, and that she was aware of the warrant for her arrest, while continuing not to be in custody. Her current whereabouts is not known.
Of note, a 2021 report told of Briana Arnold being arrested on two outstanding arrest warrants with a November 2021 court date.
Anyone who knows where Arnold may be is asked to notify Det. Eric Dalla Mura at (802) 652-6895, or to contact a local police department near her location.
