Police arrested a Longmont woman Monday in connection with a 15-year-old girl’s death in July 2023, according to an affidavit from the district attorney’s office.
Christina Lydia Elsa Mueller, 56, faces charges of child abuse resulting in death and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, according to the affidavit. She remains in custody in lieu of a $250,000 bond. She identified herself to police as the caretaker and acting mother of the girl.
The 15-year-old died on July 26, 2023 “as the result of the toxic effects of fentanyl” along with other complicating factors, according to postmortem examination findings listed in the affidavit. Her name is redacted in the report because of her age.
Residents of the home where the girl lived tried to do CPR to revive her before emergency crews arrived on the day she died. Medical personnel continued CPR and administered Narcan but could not revive the girl, according to the affidavit.
Police officers said they smelled an odor of burnt chemicals in the home, according to the affidavit. Later, they noted that the girl’s bedroom was in disarray and that there was a large dark stain on the carpet in the middle of the bedroom close to the corner of the bed.
The day before the girl’s death, she was complaining about not being able to breathe, acting sluggish, was slurring her speech and unable to keep her eyes open, according to residents interviewed by police.
Mueller told police that the girl “cries wolf when she’s sick” and often fakes being ill, according to the affidavit.
The girl’s boyfriend told police that the girl took “blues,” or counterfeit Oxycodone pills.
Police also said there was drug paraphernalia in the house, including lighters, torches and aluminum foil with burn marks consistent with using fentanyl, according to the affidavit.
