A Virginia grandmother infant poisoning case concluded on 26 June when Norfolk Circuit Court Judge Jamilah LeCruise sentenced Alvetta Juanita Haskins, 51, to 12 years and nine months in custody for the death of her three-month-old granddaughter, Skylar, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
Judge LeCruise imposed a headline term of 30 years, with 17 years and three months suspended, leaving Haskins to serve a minimum of 12 years and nine months.
How the Prosecution Described the Night Skylar Died
The underlying incident took place in April 2024 in an apartment on Suburban Parkway in Norfolk, where Haskins was babysitting twin grandchildren. According to the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Haskins added her prescription antipsychotic medication and cough syrup to Skylar’s baby bottle and fed it to her.
Prosecutors assessed that Haskins likely did so to quiet the child, though her precise motivation was never firmly established. Haskins herself told investigators she believed Skylar had a stuffy nose and, lacking children’s Tylenol, thought she was mixing adult Tylenol with powdered baby formula.
Sometime after midnight, Haskins woke to check on the babies. She found Skylar limp, with vomit on her face. She called 911 and attempted CPR. Paramedics transported the infant to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, where she was pronounced dead.
A toxicology report returned in July 2024 confirmed the cause of death as Seroquel, the antipsychotic Haskins had been prescribed for anxiety and depression. The infant’s blood also showed the presence of an over-the-counter antihistamine commonly used to relieve cold symptoms.
Virginia Grandmother Infant Poisoning Charge and Guilty Plea
Haskins was arrested on 1 January 2025, an arrest date confirmed by WAVY-TV. She subsequently entered a guilty plea to one count of felony homicide. The Virginian-Pilot reports the plea was entered in October, while the original press release referred to November 2025; on the plea month, the local outlet and the official release are in conflict. The sentencing date of 26 June is not in dispute.
Under Virginia law, the felony homicide charge arose because a death resulted from conduct that would otherwise have constituted felony child neglect. Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi addressed the legal distinction plainly after sentencing: ‘Babies are not adults, and they should never be given prescription medication except by a doctor’s order. Had her granddaughter lived, the proper charge against Ms Haskins would have been felony child neglect, but since her granddaughter died, the proper charge is felony homicide.’
Fatehi added that anyone who takes responsibility for watching children, especially babies, must do so with care and must face the consequences for dangerous behaviour. The 13News Now report noted that Norfolk Police confirmed the plea following the infant’s death from a prescription medication overdose.
Haskins Speaks at Sentencing
At the sentencing hearing, Haskins addressed the court in tears. ‘I wish I could take it all back but I can’t,’ she said. ‘That was my family, my blood. I didn’t know it was the wrong medication till the detective and my daughter told me so.’
She told the judge she had been arguing with her boyfriend while administering the medication that night. She also said she stores all her prescriptions in the same bottle. ‘I was trembling,’ she told Judge LeCruise.
Her legal team maintained throughout that the act was accidental and that she had not initially recalled giving Skylar the medication. Prosecutors noted, however, that during a second police interview in November 2024, Haskins failed to mention the prescription at all.
Judge LeCruise offered a measured observation before pronouncing sentence. ‘Regardless of the sentence I pronounce, her granddaughter will never be able to enjoy life,’ she said. As Haskins was led from the courtroom, members of her family, including her daughter, called out: ‘I love you.’
Subject to any onward appeal, Haskins will remain in custody for at least 12 years and nine months. The case is likely to prompt prosecutors and child-welfare advocates in Virginia to revisit guidance on medication storage and supervision requirements for carers of infants, particularly where prescription psychotropic drugs are kept in shared households.
