Lancaster’s mother and grandfather charged in toddler’s death linked to fentanyl

LANCASTER, California. – The mother of a 17-month-old boy who died as a result of ingesting fentanyl during what was supposed to be a supervised visit to a Lancaster home was behind bars Wednesday on murder and other charges.

Jessica Dominique Darthard, 39, was ordered held in lieu of $2.08 million bail pending arraignment Nov. 25 in a Lancaster courtroom in connection with the death of her toddler, Justin Bulley, on February 18.

The provincial medical examiner’s office concluded that the boy died due to the “effects of fentanyl.”

Darthard and her father, 72-year-old Jessie Milton Darthard, were charged with murder in late September. Jessica Darthard was also charged with four counts of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause serious bodily harm or death.

Secret Rodcliff Daniel, a 30-year-old friend of Darthard, is also charged. He faces four counts of child abuse under circumstances likely to result in serious bodily harm or death.

Daniel served as a supervisor, approved by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, responsible for overseeing Darthard’s visits with her children, including Justin Bulley.

Darthard was arrested on Tuesday.

Father speaks out

Justin’s father, Montise Bulley, held a press conference in June with attorney Brian Claypool to announce a $65 million damages claim against the DCFS, saying it should have known the child was unsafe in the Lancaster home.

Claypool said the child died while his mother and her father were in the middle of a binge, and that a history of drug and other suspicious activity at the home was well documented and should have prompted the removal of Justin and his siblings from the home. .

RELATED: Lancaster father sues DCFS over fentanyl-related death of toddler

“On the day of Justin’s death, mother and her father were using drugs and alcohol and a DCFS visitation director was present,” Claypool alleged. “This individual is supposed to be protecting children, and she is in a home while the mother of these young children and her father are engaged in drug activity.”

DCFS previously declined to comment on the case, citing ongoing litigation.

A motion filed by Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami alleges that Justin was one of three children removed from Jessica Darthard’s custody in May 2023 after witnessing her boyfriend’s death from a fentanyl overdose, but that she was allowed to have supervised visits with the children through DCFS on weekends. .

Authorities responded to the home on Feb. 18 in reference to a call about an unresponsive toddler, and the boy was rushed to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the motion. The day before, Jessica Dartland and Daniel had picked up the children at a designated pick-up location, the motion said.

Evidence showed that the boy’s maternal grandfather “had purchased fentanyl that morning, smoked it from a glass pipe in the living room while Justin lay next to him, fell asleep, and then woke up at 6 p.m. with Justin B. the couch was lying. couch next to him, was unresponsive,” according to the motion, which also noted that sheriff’s deputies reported that the boy’s mother “had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol.”

According to the motion, Jessica Darthard is on probation for two drunk driving convictions.

According to the motion, two of Jessica Darthard’s other children and three of Daniel’s children also subsequently tested positive for fentanyl exposure.