BALDWIN, Pa. — During 1-year-old Thomas Humphreys’ short life, his family said he was happy and always smiling, despite being born addicted to drugs and living most of his life with his drug-addicted parents.
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Exactly two years ago today, on September 13, 2020, Thomas died after his parents intentionally gave him methadone mixed with Tylenol in an infant syringe to put the baby boy to sleep.
Thomas also had fentanyl and other drugs in his system.
His parents, Thomas Snelsire and Tracy Humphreys, both pleaded guilty in his homicide.
“The absolute negligence and carelessness of these two individuals resulted in the very tragic death of their son — and a little boy who was important to their extended family. The entire situation is very tragic,” Tracy’s defense attorney Jimmy Sheets told Channel 11.
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Prosecutors showed pictures of the couple’s filthy home that was littered with drugs and paraphernalia.
In heart-wrenching victim impact statements, Snelsire’s family blamed him and Tracy for their child’s death. The baby’s grandfather, Thomas Snelsire’s father, told the judge to stand with him and “put them in jail for the rest of their lives.”
Several family members testified that the couple put their baby in dangerous situations. Even though CYS was involved with the family, they didn’t remove the child from their home, and they felt like the system failed this baby boy.
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The couple listened and cried throughout the proceeding, and they will now wait months for their sentence.
“No matter what happens, they’re in jail for the rest of their lives because they’re responsible for their toddler’s death,” Snelsire’s defense attorney Pat Thomassey said.