It’s no secret that there’s an opioid crisis in the US. Tens of thousands of deaths happen each year in the nation because of fentanyl alone. Sometimes, those deaths involve innocent victims – and recently, a mom was arrested after her 2-year-old died from a fentanyl overdose.
In February 2025, Riley Tehy Wormington, 23, was arrested in Colorado. Her toddler child died in North Carolina one year ago, and now, she faces serious charges.
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Wormington was arrested after her 2-year-old died from fentanyl toxicity.
On February 18, 2025, Wormington was arrested in Denver, according to a news release from the Mooresville Police Department. She moved there from North Carolina after giving birth to her second child while police investigated the death of her toddler. Wormington will be transferred to Iredell County, North Carolina.
Police were called to her North Carolina home in February 2024.
On February 13, 2024, Mooresville police officers responded to Wormington’s home in Mooresville. It was a medical call for her 2-year-old toddler.
“Despite lifesaving efforts, the child did not survive,” the news release read.
Later, the toddler’s cause of death was revealed.
“It was determined that the child’s death was the result of fentanyl toxicity after the child ingested a lethal dose of the drug,” according to the police department’s news release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration notes that 2 mg of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose, depending on a person’s body size.
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Now, she faces a second-degree murder charge, among others.
Police obtained arrest warrants for Wormington for second-degree murder, felony child abuse, felony possession of a schedule II-controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Additionally, she faces charges after the birth of her second child. They include felony child abuse, felony possession of a schedule II-controlled substance, felony maintaining a dwelling for controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the police department’s news release.
Her next court date has not been set.
“The Mooresville Police Department would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the successful arrest of Wormington,” the department shared in the news release.
It’s unclear when Wormington’s next court date will be. If convicted of second-degree murder alone in North Carolina, she could face 12 years to life in prison.
