Mother Charged With Murder After Leaving Infant in Phoenix Apartment for 37 Hours

Sara Harris was taken into custody by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office after being charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of child abuse. The charges were filed after Harris left her two children alone at home for nearly 37 hours, resulting in the death of her 6-week-old child.

Harris, 24, was taken into custody on Friday after authorities say she left her two children unattended in her apartment for 37 hours last summer while she went to a club to engage in partying and drug use.

The court ordered her bond to be set at $100,000.

According to court records, on July 30, 2023, officers were dispatched to a Phoenix apartment complex for after receiving a report of an unresponsive 1-month-old infant.

In the probable cause statement for her arrest, Harris stated during the initial investigation that her baby was restless the previous night. She reported that she administered ibuprofen to her infant and comforted her until she eventually dozed off.

Harris stated that she woke up the following day and briefly left the apartment before coming back to discover her child was not responsive.

According to the probable cause statement, investigators found that Harris had not been at the apartment for approximately 37 hours before discovering her infant dead, despite her claim of being there and visiting other locations based on surveillance footage near the complex. Additionally, she had also left her 17-month-old daughter unattended inside the apartment.

The pathologist concluded that the cause of death for the infant was undetermined. This was based on findings of chlorpheniramine intoxication, airway mucus plug, and an unsafe sleeping environment. Chlorpheniramine is a common ingredient in Children’s Tylenol.

During a post-Miranda interview on January 5, Harris ultimately confessed to leaving her infant and toddler on July 28 and not returning until July 30. She explained that she had consumed drugs, alcohol, and visited a nightclub in Tempe during that period.

According to court documents, Harris admitted to giving her baby melatonin and NyQuil via a bottle before leaving. A toxicology test revealed the presence of NyQuil in the baby’s system.