Pennsylvania mom charged with baby's sleeping death used cocaine to stay awake, court documents relveal

LANCASTER, Pa. — A Lancaster woman accused of causing the death of her three-month-old child while using cocaine to stay awake has waived her preliminary hearing, allowing her case to proceed to county court, authorities said Thursday.

Luz Linette Saez, 32, is facing felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children. The charges stem from an incident on August 30, 2024, when police were called to Saez’s residence on South Lime Street and discovered the infant deceased.

An autopsy determined the child died from complications of asphyxia due to co-sleeping. Investigators say Saez admitted to using cocaine the previous day to remain awake and care for her children but fell asleep with the baby in her arms. She awoke nearly 12 hours later to find the infant unresponsive, lying face down on the bed.

A search of Saez’s home uncovered suspected crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia, and a voluntary drug test conducted days later confirmed Saez had cocaine in her system. Police noted that Saez appeared to fall asleep repeatedly during her initial interview.

Court records also revealed that Lancaster County Children and Youth Agency had received a referral in May that the baby had tested positive for cocaine at birth. The report also noted concerns about Saez falling asleep while holding the newborn in the hospital.

Saez remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail, with officials citing concerns for the safety of her surviving children and the severity of the charges.

The case will now proceed to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, where Saez will face trial.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.