A D.C. woman was sentenced Friday to four years in prison in the death of her 7-week-old son after a fatal dose of her prescription medication.
Tisheena Brown had pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in May.
Authorities say that on Sept. 17, 2013, Brown gave Promethazine, a drug had been prescribed to her, to her infant son, Hakeem, because he was fussy.
Hours later, Brown realized Hakeem wasn't breathing and called 911. D.C. Fire & EMS responded to her home in the 2900 block of Akron Place SE and took Hakeem to the hospital, where he died.
Brown initially told police the only thing she gave Hakeem was an over-the-counter gas relief medication, according to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Prosecutors said an autopsy showed that Hakeem died from a lethal dose of Promethazine, which is used to treat allergic reactions and symptoms of the common cold. It is prescribed with a warning that it should not be used in children younger than two years old because it may cause breathing problems.
Prosecutors said Brown has a history of prescription drug abuse dating back several years, and that between September and December 2013, she had more than 1,700 pills prescribed by a variety of doctors.
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Brown was arrested in January, and has been in custody sincce then.
She was also sentenced Friday to three months in prison on a charge of second-degree insurance fraud. She will serve that sentence concurrently with the manslaughter term.
Judge Lynn Leibovitz also ordered Brown to receive mental health treatment and drug treatment while in prison and then during five years of supervised release.
