PHOENIX, AZ – Natalie Tate, 38, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for the fentanyl overdose death of her 18-month-old child, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced today.
Incident Details
On January 29, 2024, Phoenix Police responded to a 911 call from Tate reporting that her child was unresponsive. Upon arrival, officers learned that Tate had used fentanyl the previous night, leaving the pills within reach of her child.
According to investigators:
- Tate fell asleep after using fentanyl and woke up to find her pill container open and blue residue on the floor.
- She placed her children to bed for the night.
- The next morning, she found her infant unresponsive.
- Phoenix Fire Department arrived and pronounced the child deceased at the scene.
A medical examiner determined the cause of death to be acute fentanyl consumption.
Charges and Sentencing
Tate pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Manslaughter (Class 2 Felony)
- Child Abuse (Class 3 Felony)
- Attempt to Commit Child Abuse (Class 3 Felony)
She was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison.
Statement from County Attorney Rachel Mitchell
“The recklessness of this fentanyl-addicted mother caused her toddler to grab a hold of a lethal dose of fentanyl,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “This drug is everywhere in our community, and we must do all we can to protect the most vulnerable: our children.”
