SLIDELL — A 33-year-old man will spend 50 years in prison after taking a plea agreement in the fentanyl-related death of his two-year-old niece and severe neglect of his one-year-old nephew back in 2024.
Under the plea agreement, Christopher Mikhail Baker, of Slidell, pleaded guilty to the following:
- Manslaughter
- Second-degree cruelty to juveniles
- Possession of fentanyl
- Possession of cocaine
- Illegal carrying of weapons while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance
On Jan. 7, 2024, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO) deputies responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive child at a residence in Slidell. Christopher Baker had been babysitting his niece, two-year-old Ryah Young, and his nephew, one-year-old Rashad Young Jr., for two days.
According to the District Attorney Collin Sims, Baker claimed he discovered the toddler unresponsive shortly before 2 p.m., yet emergency services were not alerted for nearly 20 minutes. Ryah Young was pronounced
dead at the hospital. A toxicology report later confirmed her cause of death as drug toxicity after testing positive for both fentanyl and cocaine.
Medical examinations of the one-year-old brother, Rashad, showed that he too was positive for cocaine and was suffering from a liver contusion, eye contusion, and internal injuries. When officials searched the home, they discovered baggies and straws containing fentanyl and cocaine residue, along with a .45 caliber firearm.
In recorded jail calls, Baker referred to the incident as a “freak accident,” suggesting the children had “ate one.”
At the sentencing on Jan. 15, the victims’ mother addressed the court and the defendant. “My children loved you Chris…they loved their Uncle Juice,” she said. “You took my daughter and almost took my son. You have a son. At least you have a son to talk to.”
Following the victim impact statement, Judge John A. Keller asked the defendant if he wished to make a statement to the victim’s family. Baker elected to say nothing, per District Attorney Collin Sims.
Because of his guilty plea, Baker was sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison.
“The death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy, made even more heinous by the fact that it was entirely preventable,” said District Attorney Collin Sims. “Fentanyl is a poison that continues to devastate families in our community. This defendant’s choice to keep lethal narcotics within reach of helpless children is a level of
negligence that demands the highest level of accountability. While no sentence can bring Ryah back, today’s 50-year term ensures that Mr. Baker is held fully responsible for the life he took and the child he endangered.”
District Attorney Sims also gave special thanks to STPSO’s Detective Winston Harbin of the STPSO. Detective Harbin’s thorough and dedicated investigative work was instrumental in building the case and ensuring that justice was served for these two young victims, he said.
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