Miami man now facing aggravated manslaughter charge in fentanyl-related death of 18-month-old boy

MIAMI — A Miami man arrested in May after investigators said they found approximately 69 grams of suspected fentanyl inside his bedroom is now facing an aggravated manslaughter charge in connection with the death of an 18-month-old boy who investigators said accidentally ingested drugs.

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Richie Jonathan Gregoire, 20, was arrested May 21 after authorities executed a search warrant at an apartment in Miami, according to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department.

Gregoire is now facing a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with the toddler’s death, Local 10 learned Wednesday.

The child’s mother, 29-year-old Pearlandria Boujolly, was previously arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with her son’s death.

The investigation into the child’s death began Jan. 3, when Miami police officers and Miami Fire Rescue personnel responded at approximately 3:50 a.m. to a report of an unresponsive toddler at Boujolly’s home off Northwest 91st Street near 22nd Avenue.

The child was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

An autopsy conducted by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Department found fentanyl and a trace amount of cocaine in the child’s blood.

Investigators determined the toddler accidentally ingested a small amount of drugs that had been left inside an unlocked room at the home. A Ring camera captured the moments when the toddler consumed the drugs before becoming unresponsive, according to investigators.

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Four children ranging in age from 1 to 8 years old were inside the home at the time of the incident, authorities said. Investigators said the children were exposed to drugs and that three unsecured guns were also inside the home.

Boujolly was not home when the child consumed the drugs, investigators said.

Suspected fentanyl found during May search

According to Gregoire’s May 21 arrest report, the ATF Task Force’s Street Terror Offender Program was assisting Miami police robbery detectives in executing a search warrant at the suspect’s apartment.

During a search of Gregoire’s bedroom, detectives said they found approximately 69 grams of suspected fentanyl packaged in clear capsules and stored in multiple locations throughout the room.

Investigators also found gloves, Ziploc boxes, a Nike shoe box containing drug paraphernalia and a letter from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles addressed to Gregoire.

After being read his Miranda rights, Gregoire told investigators he knew the narcotics were being stored in the room but claimed they did not belong to him, the report stated.

Police said Gregoire told investigators he was afraid to identify who owned the drugs.

Online jail records show that Gregoire was issued a $50,000 bond for the new aggravated manslaughter charge.

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