Mother Charged in Girl's Overdose Death Released

A Carroll County woman charged with murder in the drug overdose death of her 4-year-old daughter has been released on bail.

The Carroll County Times reports that Circuit Court Judge J. Barry Hughes granted Paula Shipley $75,000 bail and she was released Monday.

The 46-year-old was arrested Friday after her indictment on charges including second-degree murder. Four-year-old Cassandra Shipley died in March after she was found in cardiac arrest at a Westminster home. An autopsy determined the cause of death was a lethal dose of narcotic drugs, but state officials say over-the-counter drugs were in her system too.

Attorney Haven Shoemaker argued for bail saying Shipley had no prior criminal record and an extensive family network in the county. He says he believes the girl's death was an accident.