Miami-Dade couple arrested after child swallows cough suppressant pill, police say

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami-Dade couple was arrested last Thursday after police said their 1-year-old child was hospitalized after ingesting a cough suppressant pill while being left unattended.

According to their arrest reports, 42-year-old Diego Alejandro Forera Marin and 34-year-old Angelica Fajarito left their 1-year-old and 10-year-old children unattended at their northwest Miami-Dade residence, located near the 1300 block of Northwest 79th Street.

A witness, who arrived at the residence just before 7 p.m., found the 1-year-old coughing and struggling to breathe, the report stated.

The witness immediately called 911, and emergency services managed to resuscitate the child, police said.

Authorities confirmed the child was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s pediatric emergency room after experiencing severe breathing difficulties.

During the ordeal, the couple’s 10-year-old son revealed to hospital staff that his sibling may have accidentally ingested a cough suppressant pill that spilled from their mother’s bag while he was searching for something, police said.

After arriving back at the home, Forera Marin and Fajarito were subsequently taken into custody by Miami-Dade police officers for further questioning.

During an interrogation, the couple admitted to the allegations, police said.

An arresting officer wrote in the police report that “the defendants failed in their duty to provide adequate care, supervision and necessary services to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of the victims.”

Police said both parents were transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without further incident.

Jail records show Forera Marin and Fajarito are both facing one count each of child neglect with great bodily harm.

The couple’s bond information remains unclear at this time.