Two East Nashville grandparents are charged in a grand jury indictment with first-degree murder for the August 2021 fentanyl-related death of their 20-month-old grandson.
Charles Allen Sr., 80, and Yolanda Newsome, 58, were taken into custody today at their S. 7th Street apartment. A Criminal Court judge set bond for Allen at $150,000. Newsome’s bond is set at $100,000.
The investigation, led by Youth Services Detective Edward Conrads, shows that Allen and Newsome were caring for their 20-month-old grandson, Korran Newsome, during the afternoon/evening of August 6, 2021, while his mother was at work. The grandparents placed Korran into bed with them that night. After returning home from work, the mother was alerted by Yolanda Newsome that Korran was not breathing. CPR was begun. Korran was rushed to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. There were no signs of abuse or trauma to his body. After toxicology testing, the Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death to be acute fentanyl intoxication. The child was found to have had enough fentanyl in his system to kill an adult.
During interviews with the grandparents, both acknowledged to buying heroin off the street. They are alleged to have allowed Korran to be exposed to heroin containing fentanyl while in their care, specifically in their bed.
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Charles Allen Sr., 80
Yolanda Newsome, 58