NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Following a year-long investigation, two people have been charged in the death of a 23-month-old girl, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Authorities said Jesse Mashburn, 36, and Melissa Sutton, 46, were charged with first-degree murder after Ariel Rose, 23 months old, died in an apartment due to fentanyl ingestion. The two were caring for the young girl when she died.
They were arrested Wednesday and are being held on $100,000 bonds.
“The painstaking investigation, led by Youth Services Detective John Grubbs, revealed that Sutton and Mashburn were caring for Rose at a residence on 25th Avenue North when she was found unresponsive. Neither was her legal guardian,” MNPD said.