COTHRAN

BELLAIRE — A local baby died as a result of a drug overdose, Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas said Wednesday.

Lucas said the death occurred April 24 after Cameron Javon Cothran, 38, dropped his 1-year-old daughter off at the East Ohio Regional Hospital emergency room and left.

“The baby was contaminated with fentanyl,” Lucas said.

Lucas noted that the child was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital but later died. He added that law enforcement does not know where Cothran went after dropping the baby off, but he later returned to EORH.

Reports indicate Cothran is a Cleveland resident who had been living in Bellaire, raising the child on his own; the mother is incarcerated.

A Belmont County grand jury handed down an indictment against Cothran on Wednesday, charging him with involuntary manslaughter. He is lodged at the Belmont County Jail.

“Last Wednesday when it happened, my detectives had help from Martins Ferry, Bridgeport, Bellaire and Wheeling PD,” Lucas said Thursday. “Initially he was arrested on several charges, but yesterday he was indicted.”

Lucas said this is the third overdose of a child so far this year, but it is the first child death by overdose.

“He’s from Cleveland,” Lucas added. “We did that drug bust last night, and one of them was from Cleveland. When my Criminal Interdiction Unit gets one, it’s not long until there’s another (Cleveland-based drug offender) down here.”

According to the sheriff’s office, Cothran also is charged with driving under the influence, two counts of endangering children, possession of drugs, two counts of tampering with evidence and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. He is being held at the Belmont County Jail without bail.

County Prosecutor Kevin Flaagan said Cothran is scheduled to be arraigned on May 9, but that date could change.

“We have the case, we presented it to the Belmont County grand jury,” Flanagan said. “It returned an indictment, and we will now prepare for trial.”