Ohio Parents Sentenced After Newborn Daughter Dies From Cocaine Toxicity in Drug-Filled Basement Bedroom

An 8-day-old baby girl died after being exposed to cocaine in the home where her parents were living, and both adults have now been sentenced to prison. Justin Soll, 32, and Shannon Wester, 29, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of their daughter, Emilia Soll. The case shocked investigators after they discovered a dangerous combination of drugs, drug paraphernalia and infant supplies inside the small basement bedroom where the family had been staying in Oregon, Ohio, near Toledo.

Police were called to the residence on February 22, 2026, at around 4 a.m., after receiving a report that the newborn was not breathing. According to investigators, Wester said she had fed Emilia before placing her on a pink pillow on the floor. Soll later woke up and found the baby unresponsive. He called 911 and attempted CPR while waiting for emergency responders. Paramedics found the infant pale and vomiting before rushing her to the hospital. Despite medical efforts, Emilia died three days later.

The investigation uncovered disturbing conditions inside the basement bedroom. Officers reportedly found pacifiers and bottle nipples near bags containing white powder, along with numerous items associated with drug use. Prosecutor Samantha Crist described the room in court as being filled with cocaine and drug paraphernalia, emphasizing that there were many drugs in a very small space. The family had been living in the basement of Wester’s parents’ home, where the infant was exposed to an environment that authorities said was unsafe.

Medical findings confirmed that Emilia died from cocaine toxicity. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office ruled her death a homicide after determining that cocaine exposure caused fatal brain injury. Investigators also found cocaine on a pacifier tested by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The evidence became central to the criminal case, leading both parents to admit responsibility through guilty pleas to involuntary manslaughter.

The court handed down prison sentences in October and November 2026. Wester was sentenced on October 30 to between five and seven and a half years in prison. Soll received a sentence of 10 to 15 years. In a letter read in court, Soll expressed remorse and acknowledged his long struggle with addiction, saying he should have sought help before his daughter was born and had failed to put her needs first. During sentencing, the judge stressed that Emilia should never have been brought into such an unsafe environment.

A newborn’s life ended before she had the chance to grow up, while her parents now face years behind bars for their roles in her death. The case highlights the devastating consequences of exposing an infant to drugs and unsafe living conditions. For Emilia, the small pink pillow where she was reportedly placed became part of a tragedy that prosecutors and the court say could never have been allowed to happen.

Source: Law&Crime