Infant Death

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at approximately 12:07 p.m. Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Detectives responded to 26 Oak Street Apt. 2 in Oakland at the request of the Oakland Police Department. 21-year-old Ashley Malloy called 911 to report her 14-month-old child, Karson Malloy was having a medical emergency. The child was transported to Inland hospital in Waterville where he was pronounced dead. After a preliminary investigation, State Police Detectives applied for and were granted a search warrant for the apartment the child and mother lived in. Inside the apartment, Detectives located  5.85 lbs. of fentanyl, 3.4 lbs. of methamphetamine, 1.35 pounds of crack cocaine, and $2,262 in cash and other items indicative of drug trafficking.

Malloy was charged Thursday, November 4, 2021, by MDEA with Class “A” Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W drugs as a result of what was seized at the house. Malloy was arrested Thursday evening and released on unsecured bond.
The street value of the drugs seized was in the neighborhood of $700,000.

The drugs were turned over to the Maine Drug Enforcement agency while State Police Detectives continue to work with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause of the child’s death. 
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO.

On July 22, 2020 the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office responded to 592 North Parish Road in Turner for the report of a two-month infant in medical distress.  Deputies performed CPR and assisted rescue personnel with the child, who was identified as Harper Averill.  The child was brought by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland for treatment.  The infant ultimately died as a result of her injuries.  

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy following the death.  Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit South and the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department have been working on this case for the last 13 months and collaborated in their investigation with Spurwink services, DHHS, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.  

On Wednesday, September 8, 2021 the Attorney General’s Office presented the case to the Grand Jury sitting at Androscoggin County.  The Grand Jury returned an indictment charging the father, 27 year old Trevor Averill with Depraved Indifference Murder and Manslaughter.  Averill was arrested at his home in Buckfield this afternoon by Detectives from the Maine State Police and Deputies from the Androscoggin Sheriff’s Department.
 

From the desk of Shannon Moss, DPS PIO

On Thursday, June 3, 2021, Maine State Police arrested 36-year-old Ronald Harding of Brewer. Harding is charged with manslaughter in the death of his 6-week-old infant son. 

On Monday, May 31, 2021, Harding called 911 to report that his son was unresponsive and not breathing.
The child was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in critical condition. He was pronounced dead on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

An autopsy performed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner revealed that the infant died from inflicted injuries.

Ronald Harding was arrested at the Brewer Police Department and taken to the Penobscot County Jail.