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‘Dark world:’ 15-month-old dies from fentanyl in Marion County; parents arrested

Daltin Miller found dead in March in Ocala home

Daniel Miller, 48, and Kelli Starling, 37, have been charged with homicide - aggravated child manslaughter. (Marion County Sheriff's Office)

OCALA, Fla. – The parents of a 15-month-old boy were arrested Wednesday after he died from fentanyl, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

In a press conference Thursday morning, deputies announced 37-year-old Kelly Nichole Starling and 48-year-old Brady Miller faced charges of homicide and aggravated child manslaughter, as well as drug possession, in the death of Daltin Miller.

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According to the sheriff’s office, Daltin was found dead inside an Ocala home on March 1 after detectives received a call about an unresponsive child. Detectives said that fentanyl was found near the child at the time of his death, and the child had eaten drugs.

Upon further investigation, detectives discovered that Daltin was born with fentanyl in his system and Daltin had been removed from his parent’s custody, officials said. Days before Daltin’s death, Miller was granted custody of Daltin again under the condition that Starling was not allowed into the home. According to the sheriff’s office, Starling disobeyed orders and returned to the home.

“Daltin came into this world, into a darker world. His environment was a dark world of illicit drug use,” Lt. Paul Bloom said during a press conference on Thursday.

During the parents’ arrest, deputies said that Miller had fentanyl in his pocket.

Both Starling and Miller are being held at the Marion County jail on no bond.


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