Reginal Brown charged with child endangerment in methadone-induced homicide of toddler Mickel Brown

Michael Lansu — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:56:18 -0600

Reginal Brown / Photo from Chicago Police

BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times

A North Lawndale man was ordered held in lieu of $350,000 bond Tuesday on charges of endangering the life of a 2-year-old boy who died from methadone poisoning while under his care.

Reginal Z. Brown was babysitting Mickel Brown June 18, 2014, in his first-floor apartment when the toddler ingested the synthetic opioid, which is commonly used as a painkiller and to treat narcotic addiction, authorities said.

Brown had a previous relationship with Mickel’s mother and babysat him occasionally, said Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Barry Quinn.

Mickel’s mother had dropped the boy off at Brown’s residence three days before he died, Quinn said.

The night before Mickel’s death, Brown’s girlfriend -- a heroin user -- slept over and left the cup of methadone she had been drinking in the room she stayed in with Brown and the child, Quinn said.

In the morning, Brown, 36, saw Mickel take the cup from the windowsill and put it to his lips.

But instead of taking the cup away, he allegedly left Mickel in the room and went back to the kitchen of the apartment in the 1400 block of South Kedvale Avenue.

Minutes before, two other people in the apartment heard a slap and saw Brown take Mickel to the bedroom for spilling his cereal, Quinn said.

Fifteen minutes later, the toddler crawled out of the bedroom and then slumped against the washing machine, Quinn said.

When one of the guests noticed the child was limp and extremely sleepy, Brown said the boy was “faking it” and took him back to the bedroom, Quinn said.

Hours later, Brown called 911 and attempted CPR on Mickel, Quinn said.

By this time, his guests had left but three relatives had stopped by to see their bedridden uncle who also lived in Brown’s apartment.

When the trio saw the ambulance arrive after they had been there for 15 to 20 minutes, they asked Brown why he didn’t tell them Mickel was there, Quinn said.

They also asked him why he hadn’t yelled for help while tending to the child, Quinn said.

Mickel was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy determined Mickel died of methadone toxicity and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services initially launched an investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the time of Mickel’s death, authorities said.

Brown will be back in court March 23.

Autopsy: Mickel Brown, 2, died from methadone toxicity

Michael Lansu — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 17:14:24 -0500

The June death of a 2-year-old West Side boy has been ruled a homicide after toxicology results revealed the child died from methadone toxicity.

Mickel Brown’s stepfather put him down for a nap on June 18 and later noticed the boy wasn’t breathing, authorities said.

Mickel, of the 1400 block of South Kedvale Avenue, died later that day at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

According to autopsy results delayed for completion of toxicology tests, Mickel died of methadone toxicity and his death has been ruled a homicide, according to a spokesman for the medical examiner’s office.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used as a painkiller and for treatment of narcotic addiction.

DCFS launched an investigation into allegations of abuse and neglect at the time of Mickel’s death, authorities said. An agency spokeswoman could not provide an immediate update on the investigation Wednesday afternoon.

Chicago Police could not immediately say whether anyone has been charged in connection with the death.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Mickel Brown | Homicide Watch Chicago

Reginal Brown charged with child endangerment in methadone-induced homicide of toddler Mickel Brown

Autopsy: Mickel Brown, 2, died from methadone toxicity