Mother charged in 8-month-old's death makes first court appearance

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — A 30-year-old mother charged with her baby's 2022 death made her first court appearance on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.

A judge appointed Samantha Higgins an attorney and set her next court date for Aug. 25.

MOM IN COURT FRIDAY CHARGED IN BABY'S BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA, OVERDOSE DEATH

Higgins is charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse inflicting serious physical injury in the death of her 8-month-old child, Dani Harmon.

Asheville police say officers responded to Mission Hospital on Sept. 26, 2022, to investigate the fentanyl overdose of a baby. Harmon was pronounced dead on Sept. 29.

An autopsy later determined the child's cause of death as "complications of blunt forces injuries of the head" and "sustained blunt forces head trauma; exposed to fentanyl."

ASHEVILLE MOTHER CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, CHILD ABUSE IN INFANT'S DEATH

Higgins is being held in the Buncombe County Detention Center on a secure bond of $150,000 issued by a Magistrate.