HARRISBURG, PA – Cambria County resident Volaura Askew, 27, is now under arrest on charges related to the overdose death of her five-year-old daughter in October last year.
Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Tuesday that Askew was charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance, and tampering with evidence.
An investigation unveiled that Askew allegedly exposed her daughter to fentanyl/heroin within the hours and days leading up to her death. The child was discovered deceased in her Johnstown home on Monday, October 27, 2022.
A subsequent autopsy determined that the cause of death was an overdose from fentanyl.
Two other individuals, Albert Spicer and Elyse Young, both from Johnstown, face charges for drug-dealing offences tied to the case. Spicer, who is identified as a supplier of illegal drugs, was purportedly using Young’s residence as a stash house following his release from prison. It was established that Askew and Young had both used fentanyl and heroin at the residence while Askew’s two children, including the victim, were present.
Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees identified the cause of death as acute fentanyl toxicity and ruled it a homicide. Askew turned herself in on Tuesday afternoon and awaited arraignment later that day.