From NewsChannel 9: A man and woman in Chattanooga face murder charges after police say an autopsy revealed the presence of fentanyl in their 2-ye
From NewsChannel 9: A man and woman in Chattanooga face murder charges after police say an autopsy revealed the presence of fentanyl in their 2-year-old son.
Chattanooga Police arrested 32-year-old Taiwan Darrell Greathouse and 34-year-old Brittany Marie Bell.
A release says the couple’s 2-year-old son was rushed to the hospital ‘in distress.’
The child later died on March 20th of this year, and an autopsy revealed the presence of fentanyl in his system.
An online obituary identifies the child as Montana Stephan Greathouse. It says
Baby Tana was a toddler so bright; he was the sun in the day and the moon in the night. He was the light in everyone’s eyesight. Baby Tana was a star that shined very bright. He was as sweet as the fresh squeezed lemonade he oh so liked. His father’s music, his mother’s love, Coco Melon and monster trucks, and cars are what got him hyped. Smiling tooth to tooth showing those purely whites. Kisses, cuddles, and hugs are what he loved. Pointing his fingers to things that amazed him. Basketball or football it didn’t matter, he loved them all.
Overdose specialist Kendall Morgan says fentanyl is quickly becoming an epidemic in Hamilton County.
“Almost three out of four fatal overdoses involve fentanyl,” says Morgan. “It’s definitely one of the top issues with drug use in Chattanooga.”
The health department says the county had 226 drug overdose deaths last year and 73% of those were from fentanyl.
“It’s really sad, very dramatic. I feel sorry for any of the other family, you know, left behind,” says Morgan.
It’s a crisis she says requires education on how to acquire and administer life-saving drugs like Narcan.
“Some people just don’t know how to spot an overdose. ‘I don’t know what to do when I do come across an overdose,'” says Morgan.
To keep these beautiful smiles, from becoming distant memories.
We reached out to the daycare that looked after Montana, they told us he was a beautiful and kind child and that he will be greatly missed.
Greathouse and Bell have both been charged with first degree premeditated murder, felony murder, aggravated child endangerment, and 2 counts of misdemeanor child endangerment.
It’s not Greathouse’s first offense. He was arrested in 2022 and 2013 for drug possession.
While we are still working to learn more details about the child’s death, CPD has confirmed that negligence was a major factor.
