SRPD DVSA Detectives Arrest Mother and Grandmother following an 11-Month-Old's Fentanyl Exposure

On Monday, July 14, 2025, at approximately 3:40 am, officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) responded to an area hospital to investigate a report of an 11-month-old girl’s possible fentanyl exposure. Officers learned the baby, who survived the incident, was possibly exposed to fentanyl while under her mother’s supervision at the child’s maternal grandmother’s apartment in Santa Rosa. It was believed the baby was exposed to fentanyl at approximately 7:00 pm the night prior and was immediately administered Narcan by her grandmother to prevent a possible overdose. The baby was not brought to the hospital until after midnight, nor had either the mother or grandmother called 911 following the exposure. 

Detectives with the SRPD Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Team (DVSA) and an SRPD Narcotics Investigations Team detective responded and assumed the investigation. Their preliminary investigation determined the child’s mother, Shaylynne Watson, a 35-year-old resident of Lake County, had brought her four young children, ranging in age from 11 months to 9 years, to her mother’s apartment in the 2000 block of Range Avenue on July 13, 2025. Watson and the children were in the apartment with Watson’s mother, 54-year-old Beverly Hansel of Santa Rosa, for several hours. While the three older children were in another room with Hansel, the 11-month-old baby was on the floor of a bedroom with Watson nearby. At some point, the baby picked up a small, white substance that Watson feared may have been fentanyl. She alerted Hansel, who administered Narcan to the baby to prevent a possible overdose. Both women monitored the baby for overdose symptoms briefly before Watson left the apartment with all four children. Neither woman called 911 to request medical aid for the child. Approximately five hours later, Watson brought the baby to an area hospital to be evaluated for the possible fentanyl exposure. A preliminary medical examination determined the baby had been exposed to fentanyl.  

As the investigation continued, detectives authored a search warrant for Hansel’s residence. At approximately 2:30 pm, SRPD detectives, assisted by members of the SRPD Downtown Enforcement Team, executed the search warrant at Hansel’s apartment. Hansel was present during the service of the search warrant and was detained by detectives pending further investigation into her involvement in this incident. Numerous pieces of narcotics paraphernalia, much of it stained with suspected narcotics residue, as well as pills, methamphetamine, and black tar heroin, were located inside the apartment. Many items were located on the floor in the room where the baby had been crawling and on surfaces easily accessible by the children.  

Based on their investigation, detectives concluded both Watson and Hansel were responsible for the baby’s fentanyl exposure. 

Watson was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility (MADF) for one count of felony child endangerment per 273a(a) PC. 

Hansel was arrested and booked into MADF for one count of felony child endangerment per 273a(a) PC, and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia per 11364(a) HS. 

SRPD DVSA detectives began collaborating with Child Protective Services of Lake County (the children’s county of residence) early in this investigation. All four children were removed from Watson’s custody by CPS. The 11-month-old baby was treated for fentanyl exposure and later released from the hospital.  

Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid, up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, and even a tiny amount can be fatal, especially to children. Accidental exposure, whether through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation, poses a grave risk, with children being particularly vulnerable due to their smaller body size and developing systems. The Santa Rosa Police Department recognizes the severe threat fentanyl poses to community safety and maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding accidental exposures to children. This means every incident is treated with the utmost seriousness, and all necessary investigative and enforcement actions are taken to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. The department is committed to proactive education, prevention, and enforcement efforts to combat the dangers of fentanyl and ensure a safer Santa Rosa for all. For more information about the dangers of fentanyl, please visit the Community Outreach page on our website here. 

Media inquiries can be directed to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.