A tragic case in California has drawn attention after a mother was charged with murder following the death of her 20-month-old daughter from fentanyl poisoning. Korisa Lynn Woll, 39, has been accused of neglecting her child and failing to seek help when it mattered most.
The incident occurred last year in Santa Cruz, where Woll’s daughter, known as "Baby Z," was found dead in their apartment. Disturbingly, it was Woll’s 4-year-old son who discovered his sister’s lifeless body. Reports indicate that Woll was passed out in the living room at the time and did not call 911. Instead, she attempted to revive her daughter using Narcan and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, according to court documents.
After realizing Baby Z had died, Woll transported her to a nearby hospital in a wheelchair, where she alerted a security guard and then walked away. Medical staff later reported that Baby Z had been dead for hours before being brought to the hospital. A toxicology report revealed that the child had 22 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in her system, a level that could be lethal for multiple adults.
Woll was arrested in June and faces charges of murder, drug dealing, and child abuse. She is currently being held without bail as she awaits trial. The case has raised significant concerns about the welfare of children in homes affected by substance abuse.
Woll’s partner, Robert Tillman, had died from a fentanyl overdose just months before Baby Z’s death. The couple had three other children, aged 16, 8, and 4. Neighbors reported that the parents often isolated their children while using drugs in the living room. Tillman had previously faced charges of child abuse.
Despite a history of reports regarding the family’s neglect in Tennessee, where they lived before moving to California, there were no open cases against Woll in Santa Cruz. This lack of intervention has sparked outrage and questions about the effectiveness of child protective services in preventing such tragedies.
As this case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by substance abuse and the critical importance of safeguarding vulnerable children.