By: Yuritza Arroyo
Ocean County authorities announced that on July 12, Natalie Sabie, 35, of Lacey Township, pled guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in connection with the death of her 2-year-old son on September 7, 2022, in Lacey Township.
According to authorities, at the time of her sentencing on September 8, the State will be seeking a term of ten years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) - subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act - as to the Aggravated Manslaughter charge, and five years NJSP as to the Endangering charge.
Officials say the sentences are to run consecutively.
On September 7, 2022, Officers from the Lacey Township Police Department were summoned to a residence for a report of a two year-old male found to be unresponsive by his mother, Natalie Sabie.
Responding Officers and Paramedics at the scene attempted life saving measures but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
According to Police, the child was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead.
Further investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Lacey Township Police Department, and Lacey Township Police Department Detective Bureau, determined that Sabie was at home with the child and responsible for his care on September 7th when he was found unresponsive.
Police say the investigation also revealed that the child had access to illegal narcotics while in his mother’s care.
On September 9, 2022, a post mortem examination was performed on the child by the Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office; the results of the examination remained inconclusive pending toxicology analysis.
On October 12, 2022, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office received the toxicology report, which revealed the presence of a significant amount of fentanyl in the child’s system.
Officials say based upon this report, a forensic pathologist made a determination that the child’s cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication.
On October 14, 2022, Sabie was taken into custody and charged in connection with the death of her son.
Sabie was processed and has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since her apprehension.