North Carolina woman charged in child’s drug death last year

RALEIGH, N.C. – A woman whose 9-month-old daughter died after swallowing heroin and fentanyl now faces an additional charge of felony child neglect.

Media outlets report 30-year-old Lacrystal Renee McClain of Garner, North Carolina, also faces a weapons charge after a stolen handgun was found in her apartment.

Investigators say Allie Gaines died Nov. 15. McClain has been in the Wake County jail since February, when she was charged with conspiring to traffic in heroin with Allie’s father, 33-year-old Albert Gaines Jr., who was already jailed on a felony child abuse charge. McClain also had been charged with maintaining a residence to store or sell drugs.

It was not known if the couple has attorneys.