EPD Releases Child Death Investigation Information

EPD Releases Child Death Investigation Information

 On October 27th, just after 8:00 a.m., Evansville Police Officers and other first responders were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of E Michigan for a medical emergency. The caller told Dispatch that her grandchild was not breathing and had gotten ahold of a fentanyl pill the day before. Officers arrived on the scene and found a 3-year-old child on the couch, who was deceased. The grandparents of the child, Amber Opperman, and Brandon Opperman, were on the scene. They told officers that the deceased child’s mother was Makaylee Opperman. Makaylee’s other two children, an infant, and a 2-year-old, were also inside the home at the time. Amber told detectives that Makaylee called her on October 26th because she thought her children ingested some fentanyl pills. It was determined that no one sought medical treatment for the children. Makaylee dropped the children off with Amber the night before at the E Michigan address. 

First Responders realized that the other children needed medical treatment. The 2-year-old and infant were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The 2-year-old was not doing well and had to be given NARCAN by medical staff. Both children are now currently in stable condition. 

Detectives learned that Makaylee lived at a residence in the 3000 block of E Sycamore St. and that is where the children actually ingested the pills. Officers and detectives went to the address on E Sycamore. They found a 4-year-old child inside the residence with no adult supervision. That child was also brought to a local hospital for medical treatment and was also administered NARCAN by medical staff. Detectives located narcotics in plain view inside that residence while they were removing the child from the home. Allison Smithler arrived on the scene while officers were at that residence and told officers she lived there. 

Detectives learned that another female, Jazmynn Brown, also lives at the residence on Sycamore. It was determined that the 4-year-old located inside that home by officers belonged to Jazmynn. Detectives located Jazmynn at another location and brought her to EPD headquarters for an interview. Jazmynn’s boyfriend  Arcinial Watt, also stayed at the residence on Sycamore. He was also located and taken to EPD headquarters for an interview. 

Detectives obtained a signed search warrant for the residence on Sycamore. Over 5,000 suspected fentanyl pills were located inside the home along with other illegal narcotics, paraphernalia, a handgun, and ammunition. It is suspected that all four children involved in the incident had been exposed to fentanyl.

Based on the interviews conducted and the evidence located during the searches, all six adults were arrested for various charges and booked into the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center on October 27th.

This is still an ongoing investigation. This is not only a very complex case but was very tragic and could have resulted in more deaths. We would like to point out the excellent teamwork between motor patrol officers, detectives with the Adult Investigations Unit, Juvenile Unit, Crime Scene Unit, Narcotics Joint Task Force Unit, the Department of Child Services, and the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office.

FOOTNOTE:  This report was sent to the City-County Observer by the EPD and we posted it without editing.