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Phoenix parents face murder charge in death of toddler
Posted
Independent Newsmedia
A couple has been arrested in connection with the death of their 3-year-old son.
Shala Christine Durham, 33, and Ryan Daniel Konkol, 37, each face one count of first-degree murder, according to court documents.
On June 14, the 3-year-old was found dead at a home near 67th Avenue and Happy Valley Road in Phoenix.
When officers arrived, they interviewed the boy’s mother and father. Based on inconsistent recall of events and signs of rigor on the child, detectives also responded to the scene, records state.
Police said the mother showed clear signs of impairment and was unable to provide a linear story. She told them that she had been using Xanax and methadone, but denied her son was able to obtain any of the pills to ingest. The father also admitted to drug use, including heroine, but also denied giving the boy any pills, records state.
The mother recalled falling asleep on a small couch with the boy on top of her and later waking up to find her son dead, records state. The father was on the other couch and woke up to the mother screaming, records state.
Police obtained bloodwork done on the mother and father, which showed they tested positive for fentanyl, records state. Police also learned the pills the mother used were Alprazolam.
A toxicology exam was performed on the child, which resulted in a lethal amount of fentanyl being identified, records state.
Police arrested Shala Durham and Ryan Konkol on Wednesday afternoon and booked them into jail in lieu of a $500,000 cash-only bonds, according to court documents.
