The Aiken mother who was arrested for fentanyl possession after the mysterious death of her 1-year-old daughter Friday lied multiple times to investigators, according to a sheriff’s report.
Alexzandra “Annie” Howell, 22, gave multiple versions of where she was in the hours before her youngest daughter, Alexavia Aguirre, was found in cardiac arrest and died. The child’s cause of death is pending toxicology tests, and Howell has not been charged in her death. But the Department of Social Services has removed her other two daughters from the home.
A sheriff’s report released Monday shows that Howell had trouble being honest with investigators after her child was found unconscious around 9:35 p.m. Friday:
Two sheriff’s officers responded to an emergency call and transported the child to the hospital since Aiken County EMS having an extended delay. The child was pronounced dead soon after arriving at the hospital.
The mother stayed behind at her home and talked to officers. She said she had taken her older daughter Avleena to an Augusta hospital around 5:36 p.m. Friday due to the girl suffering from bad migraines. The 1 year old was also in the car, she said.
“(She) then changed her statement, stating that she actually took Avleena to Aiken Regional Medical Center,” Deputy C. Patrick wrote in the report. “When I further questioned Alexzandra about the hospital trip, Alexzandra then stated that she just sat in the waiting room then changed her statement again, stating that she just drove there and sat in her vehicle in the parking lot.”
Howell told the deputy that she never took Avleena inside ARMC since the child began feeling fine after sitting the car for over an hour. She said the 1 year old fell asleep in the car as she was returning to her home on L & L Lane.
Inside their home, Howell laid Alexavia on the bed, went and talked to roommate Marsha Groomes about cigarettes and returned to find the child a little cold, but still breathing. So, she placed the child on the floor next to the air vent to warm up while she searched the room for a Black & Mild cigar. Then Groomes came in the room and saw the child.
“What the f**k, Annie?” Groomes yelled after seeing the baby with purple lips and not breathing, a report says.
She said she and Groomes began CPR and called for help.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear why DSS took custody of Howell’s two other children, and a sheriff’s spokesman could not confirm reports the children tested positive for drugs in their system.
Howell reached out to WRDW-TV to tell her side of the story, admitting that she puts drugs on her own gums after getting her teeth pulled. She said it helped with the pain and swelling, assuring the TV station that the drugs were not used around her children.
Howell was released on a personal recognizance bond Saturday for drug possession and quickly jumped back on Facebook to ask for more help as she tries to get her daughters back and undergo therapy.
“Does Anybody Have An Extra Device That I Could Use On Wifi Until I Can Get Something Else?” she wrote Sunday on Facebook. “I Need To Be Able To Download A Texting App So The Investigators && DSS && I Can All Be In Contact && So I Can Get My Ducks Inna Row && Start Getting Help (Court Tomorrow Is Helping Me With Resources For Therapy && Stuff) && Guys Please Keep My Girls In Your Prayers As We Go To Court Tomorrow For Their Placement.”
Howell also mourned Alexavia by posting photos and videos while announcing plans for a balloon release that will also celebrate what would have been the child’s 2nd birthday.
“I Still Cant Even Begin To Process That Youre Gone,” Howell wrote. “One Minute You Were Fine && The Next You Were Gone … Im Still Wanting To Plan Something For Her Birthday On The 11th For Anybody Wanting To Come Im Wanting To Do A Balloon Release && Everybody Can Write Her A Message On Her Balloons Before We Let Them Go … I Love You Sooooooo Much Vale, I Really Dont Know If Ima Make It Through This Without You.”
My original comment that “I had seen this woman’s picture before”, was removed for some reason. This is a very sad story, that now includes the death of an innocent child.
Child Services needs to start a Child Buy Back program where derelict parents can trade their children and parental rights for drugs. Way better than ineffective Gun Buy Back programs and actually saves lives.
…”it’s unclear why DSS took custody of Howell’s two other children,…” NO ITS NOT. To have left them would have been criminal.