A Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison after her child died of a fentanyl overdoes.

Sarah Caitlin Burnette, 23, of the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community, was sentenced June 12 by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 180 months in prison. Burnette previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

On Feb. 27, 2021, Burnette’s 18-month-old baby boy died of acute fentanyl toxicity after ingesting the drug. On Oct. 19, 2021, Burnette was charged with murder and child abuse for the fentanyl overdose death of her son, and exposing another child to the same risk of death by fentanyl overdose.

The Salt River Police Department and FBI jointly conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer E. LaGrange and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alane Breland, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. SAUSA Breland is also the Chief Prosecutor for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.