Photo: GoFundMe
Vaillancourt’s arrest follows a medical examiner’s autopsy, which found that Harper Rose had high concentrations of diphenhydramine, a sedative, in her body and died of diphenhydramine intoxication. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide.
However, later that day, police responded to a 911 call from Vaillancourt’s home and found the infant not breathing.
“Marissa and Blake got the call no parent wants,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Harper was unresponsive and headed to the hospital via ambulance.”
But Harper Rose was pronounced dead at the hospital.
“They had a lot of doctors working on her but it wasn’t enough,” Harper Rose’s father, Blake Briar, wrote on Facebook. “I’m so lost for words.”
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Investigators were able to determine that Harper Rose was given the sedative without an order from a physician.
Stacey L. Vaillancourt.Vermont State Police/AP/REX/Shutterstock
On Monday, dozens of Harper Rose’s family and friends attended Vaillancourt’s hearing wearing pink shirts that said “Justice for Harper Rose,” the AP reports.
“None of this seems real, I can’t sleep without seeing her, I can’t open my eyes without seeing her, I can’t do anything,” Blake Briar wrote on Facebook in January. “She was the best thing that ever happened to us and I promise me and mommy are always going to love you. I love you Harper Rose Briar, Rest In Peace my beautiful daughter.”
Vaillancourt’s attorney, Robert McClallen, entered a not guilty plea for his client. He did not return PEOPLE’s calls for comment Tuesday.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go towww.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
