Police: SC mother charged in baby’s morphine death

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina deputies have arrested a 37-year-old mother after an autopsy determined her infant daughter died after ingesting a lethal level of morphine from her breast milk.

Stephanie Greene was charged Friday with homicide by child abuse.

Investigators say Greene’s 6-week-old daughter, Alexis, was found dead in her parents’ bed in their Campobello home in November 2010.

Autopsy results showed high levels of morphine in the child’s blood. Authorities say the painkiller got into Greene’s breast milk after she took a number of prescription medications.

Greene also faces 38 counts of violating drug distribution laws. Details on those charges weren’t immediately available.

Greene was awaiting a bond hearing. Her husband refused to speak with an Associated Press reporter or give her attorney’s name when reached by phone.