NEWTON, N.C. — Two parents are facing murder charges after the death of their 16-month-old daughter.
Lucas Shayne Scronce and Jennifer Denise Clay's daughter Ivy was found unresponsive on Feb. 7 in Newton. According to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, Clay was arrested on Feb. 9 for trafficking in opium while an investigation into Ivy's death started.
The autopsy of Ivy showed she died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, which changed her manner of death to homicide on June 18. Deputies believed Ivy ingested fentanyl at the residence where she was found unresponsive. That led authorities to charge both Scronce and Clay with murder.
"Ivy's needless and tragic death further demonstrates the deadly effects of fentanyl," Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown said in a release to media. "We have asked our District Attorney to hold Ivy's parents fully accountable for her murder. We are seeking justice for Ivy."
Their first appearance on those charges will be Tuesday.
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