Kate Jones found her two oldest children both dead just hours after they watched films at home and went to bed as usual.
Skylar (left) and Gaige (right) were found dead in their bed from accidental fentanyl overdoses(Image: Mirror)
A devastated mother has told of the horrifying day she tragically lost two of her children following a deadly fentanyl overdose. On January 14, 2024, Kate Jones, from Maryland, USA returned home from work early to find her 10-year-old son, Gaige, and her 14-year -old daughter, Skylar, lifeless in bed after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl.
Their 12 -year-old sister was the one who noticed that they ‘never got out of bed.’ In an exclusive interview with People, Kate recounted the horrifying day she had to dial for an ambulance after finding a ‘baggie’ next to Skylar’s bedside, and to this day, she remains clueless about its origin, reports the Mirror US.
Kate, who was working as a truck driver at the time, says that prior to the tragic day, everything seemed normal. Skylar, 14, her sister, Allyson, 12, and Gaige, 10, spent the previous night watching movies and went to bed as usual. Gaige often snuggled into his eldest sister’s bed at night, something Jones says was typical as the two had been close since his birth.
A photo of Skylar, who had big dreams, according to her mom(Image: Mirror)
The following day, she left for work, leaving the children in the care of their grandparents, who also resided in the house. The kids had a day off from school due to a freezing snow day, so they stayed in bed.
Kate’s truck broke down, resulting in her finishing work early. As she was leaving, she received a devastating call from her middle child. Allyson informed her mother that her two siblings hadn’t stirred from their beds, causing a sinking feeling in Kate’s stomach. “I said, ‘Are they breathing?’ ” Kate questioned before dashing towards her home and instructing Allyson to fetch her grandparents.
She recounts: “I get to the house, I run up the steps. I opened the door and I looked in, and of course I knew – a 12-year-old little girl’s not going to know, but I knew. She immediately dialled the emergency services upon realising the grim reality. Kathy, the children’s grandmother, hurried in and started performing CPR.
10-year-old Gaige also died from fentanyl, and the mom has no idea how they got it(Image: Mirror)
When the ambulance arrived, the emergency crew took over the resuscitation efforts, but tragically, the children were pronounced dead at the scene. Kate expressed her profound grief, saying: “Skylar, my oldest – that’s my best friend. The one who made me a mom. And my son was my mama’s boy.”
Authorities initiated an investigation, which is still ongoing, initially confiscating ‘drug paraphernalia and cell phones,’ referring to the baggie discovered next to Skylar’s bed. The mother says she realised it was an overdose the moment police found the baggie, although autopsy results took some time to arrive.
Tragically, the family was struck by another loss soon after. Gaige’s biological father and Skylar’s close figure, James Dehaven, took his own life in November 2024. Dehaven had battled addiction and depression for much of his life. Kate asserts that he was in recovery during the children’s passing and that they never witnessed him in active addiction.
In the wake of such sorrow, Kate has a poignant message for all parents – cherish every moment with your children. “It could be your kid any day. Your kid could be just an honor roll student in AP classes. Your son could be just playing on monkey bars or skating or riding his bike with his friends the day before and then … you just never know.”
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!
If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Now under the guardianship of Kate and her husband, Allyson, aged 13, is undergoing therapy. According to Kate, she’s coping better after the initial trauma of finding her siblings. Over the past year, Kate has dedicated herself to honouring her children’s memory through charitable acts.
Kate fondly recalls Skylar’s love for beauty, noting her penchant for eyelashes and lip gloss, and how she was blossoming with big aspirations, like becoming a music producer or interior designer. “She was so smart,” Kate reflects.
Gaige is remembered by Kate as the quintessential “all-American little boy,” with a passion for dinosaurs and a vibrant spirit. Kate added: “He was so smart. So caring and sweet. He’d give you the shirt off his back.”