Ohio baby dies of fentanyl overdose; three charged

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Three people have been charged in the fatal fentanyl overdose of a one-year-old baby.

On Nov. 18, Columbus police said they responded to the 100 Block of South Harris Avenue on a report of an unresponsive baby. The infant, Dekari Johnson, was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where medical staff attempted to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at 5:58 p.m.

An autopsy conducted on Nov. 21 showed that Dekari Johnson tested positive for fentanyl.

On Friday, a grand jury indicted Dekari Johnson’s father and two others in his death on the multiple felony charges.

The infant’s father, 20-year-old David Johnson III, was charged with the following felonies:

• One count of involuntary manslaughter (first degree)
• Two counts of endangering children (third degree)
• One count of tampering with evidence (third degree)
• Ten counts of drug offenses (first degree)

Destiny Strickland, 20, was charged with one count of obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony.

Daviair Porter, 22, was charged with the following felonies:

• One count of tampering with evidence
• One count of drug possession
• One count of obstructing official business