The mother of a 1-year-old girl who died of unknown reasons on Friday night was released on a personal recognizance bond after being arrested for possession of fentanyl.
Alexzandra “Annie” Howell was arrested Saturday morning and released less than four hours later without having to pay any bond, according to jail officials. The cause of death for Alexavia Aguirre is pending toxicology tests, according to Coroner Darryl Ables.
Meanwhile, sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah was unable to address reports that social workers had taken custody of Howell’s other children. An update is expected Monday.
On Sunday, the girl’s grandmother posted a GoFundMe page for donations for the girl’s funeral. She has a goal of $6,000. On her Facebook page, Shelley Markle hinted at Howell’s arrest.
“Just keep Annie in your prayers, and the girls. Annie, no matter what she did or didn’t do, is going through hell right now,” Markle said.
The GoFundMe page says the girl who died was 23 months old and went by the name Xae.
“She would light up a room with her smile. She loved her 2 big sisters and would follow them everywhere and wanted to do everything they did,” Markle said.
Posts on Howell’s Facebook page shows the young mother was begging for money, babysitters and job opportunities for weeks, struggling to care for her three daughters and work at the same time.
“I Need A Sitter ASAP For The Baby … Anybody Available That Won’t Charge More Than I Make? Just Until 3ish,” she asked on New Year’s Eve.
In another post last month, she asked if any of her Facebook friends knew about any restaurants that were hiring. She said she needed proof of income and an “opportunity to make enough money to take care of my girls.”
Babysitting was a struggle for Howell, who lived in a trailer in Hill View Manor. She asked if anyone could watch Xae over a six-day period between Jan. 20 and Jan. 26 while she worked eight-hours shifts.
“The babysitter will be out of town for them days, and I can’t miss work,” she said.
Howell got one response from someone who offered to help if she brought the girl to her.
On Saturday, Coroner Darryl Ables said it’s unclear whether there is a connection to the fentanyl found in the mother’s possession and the baby’s death.
“We can’t make a call one way or another” until the toxicology tests come back, the coroner said..
Someone made a 911 call about 9:30 p.m. Friday at 191 L & L Lane about an unresponsive child. Deputies arrived and found the child in cardiac arrest. They placed the child in their car, and one deputy drove while the other gave CPR. But the child was pronounced dead soon after arrival at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, Capt. Abdullah said.
There were no signs that would indicate an obvious cause of death, the captain said.
