In a tragic case out of Boston, a couple now faces legal consequences following the death of their infant daughter, a heart-wrenching incident that occurred nine months ago. The 5-week-old baby was taken to Boston Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, prompting an investigation that has led to charges against her parents.

Raynell Reed, aged 31, and Gerard Winn, 52, have been indicted by a grand jury on charges of manslaughter, as announced by Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. This development was reported by Boston 25 News, highlighting the seriousness of the accusations against the couple.

The case traces back to December 5, 2024, when Reed gave birth prematurely, two months ahead of schedule. Prosecutors have asserted that despite clear signs of the baby’s deteriorating health, the parents did not take her for medical attention. This neglect, they allege, directly contributed to the infant’s tragic fate.

According to DA Hayden’s office, the baby was notably underweight and malnourished throughout her brief life. “During the five weeks of the infant’s life, she failed to gain or maintain weight and was severely malnourished,” they stated, emphasizing the parents’ failure to seek crucial medical care despite the newborn’s precarious condition.

The situation reached a critical point on January 9, 2025, when Reed made a desperate call to 911, reporting that her daughter was not breathing. By then, the infant weighed only 2 1/2 pounds, a stark indicator of the neglect she suffered. The charges now loom over the couple, as the legal system seeks to address this devastating loss.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the baby died from acute intoxication of fentanyl and cocaine with malnourishment and sepsis. The drugs were found in the baby’s heart blood and liver blood.

“It’s difficult to conceive of something more tragic than a child being born and then ignored to the extent it leads to death by malnourishment and sheer neglect,” Hayden said. “The allegation that the parents were using dangerous drugs in the newborn’s presence only adds to the terrible aspects of this crime.”

Reed and Winn were ordered held on $100,000 bail and are due back in court on December 18.