Starke parents arrested after 2-year-old son dies from eating morphine

Police arrested a 34-year-old Starke man and a 26-year-old woman on charges of aggravated child neglect after their 2-year-old son, Bradley Howard, died from eating a morphine pill, according to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office.

Thomas Marvin Howard is being held on $350,000 bail, while Christian Lachelle Morgan is behind bars on $250,000 bail, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said Howard bought two 5-milligram morphine pills from a co-worker April 1, then drank four or five beers on his way home, according to their arrest reports. When he got home, he realized he dropped one of the pills as he walked inside, the reports said.

Morgan and Howard both told investigators they searched his truck, saying Bradley had been playing in there and that he "got a hold of the other pill," according to the arrest report.

Neither took any further action, going to the store with their children before he drank more beer when they got home.

The man and woman shared the remaining morphine pill before they both smoked some marijuana, drank alcohol and went to sleep, according to the report.

Howard left for work the next morning, while Morgan and Bradley appeared to be sleeping.

When Morgan awoke, she discovered her child died in his sleep and called 911, the report said.

The parents were arrested just before noon Thursday after investigators confronted them with preliminary toxicology results showing morphine in the child's system, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Florida Department of Children and Families took custody of the couple's two other children as the autopsy and full toxicology investigation on the dead child continues, the Sheriff's Office said.

Dan Scanlan: (904) 359-4549