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Mom charged with murder after child dies of heroin overdose

Posted at 2:34 PM, Nov 12, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-12 14:34:01-05

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – The suburban Philadelphia mother whose baby who died after ingesting heroin is charged with murder.  Police took Christine Rivero into custody Friday for the July death of her 11-month-old.

According to police, the 29-year-old admitted to leaving the child unattended so she could meet with friends to do heroin.

Rivero returned home to find the child had fallen into the tub.

After police found drug paraphernalia in the house, the coroner ordered toxicology tests.  Last week, the coroner ruled the baby died of acute heroin intoxication.

Right now, investigators are not sure if the child got ahold of the drug or if someone gave it to him.

Rivero denies an involvement in the child’s overdose.