A mother from Fremont may face nearly five additional months in jail after admitting guilt in the death of her toddler son. The tragic incident occurred last year when the woman overdosed on fentanyl, leaving her unconscious while her child ingested the potent narcotic.
Sophia Gastelum-Vera, 27, shed tears on Monday as she expressed remorse for her involvement in the tragic overdose that claimed the life of 23-month-old Kristofer Ferreyra. The heartbreaking incident, which occurred in October 2023, has become yet another devastating example of the rising number of young victims affected by synthetic opioid.
Sophia also made a heartfelt commitment to ongoing rehabilitation and treatment, as she navigates her way through the grip of addiction that has not only consumed her life but also caused her to be estranged from Kristofer’s three surviving siblings.
“I won’t attempt to justify what I’ve done,” stated Gastelum-Vera, 27, as she read from a prepared statement during a hearing on Monday morning. “I deeply miss my child and long to be the mother I used to be.”
Gastelum-Vera faced a potential prison sentence of four years for pleading guilty in August to involuntary manslaughter. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, she also had several lesser charges dismissed, including a felony child-abuse charge and multiple drug-related misdemeanors.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Clifford Blakely seemed to have a change of heart regarding Gastelum-Vera on Monday morning. This shift came after listening to the positive feedback from her counselors and treatment providers, who commended her for her dedication to rehab. They highlighted how she attends an impressive number of group therapy sessions every week and consistently tests negative for drugs.
The weekly visits also showcased Gastelum-Vera’s commendable level of engagement with her three other children, as noted by the observers.
During the hearing, Blakeley expressed his initial intention to send you to prison today.
According to Blakeley, there were several “significant” factors that indicated Gastelum-Vera should receive a more severe punishment. One such factor was the fact that she knowingly smoked a dangerous drug in the presence of her toddler and another child. However, what was truly heartbreaking, Blakeley emphasized, was the fact that the young boy had so much more life ahead of him.
Blakely also commended Gastelum-Vera for wholeheartedly embracing her battle against addiction. Another judge had previously mandated her to undergo a three-month residential treatment program, and she threw herself into it with great determination.
Several of Gastelum-Vera’s family and friends, along with the rehab counselors who have been overseeing her treatment for the last several months, sat in the courtroom on Monday to show their support for the woman.
Darlene Mitchell, a program coordinator for Orchid Women’s Perinatal Treatment, the residential treatment program where Gastelum-Vera initially sought court-ordered assistance, expressed that she had a strong desire for a change in her life.
Gastelum-Vera received a one-year jail sentence on Monday, but if she behaves well, Blakely may reduce that sentence by half. It is worth noting that she has already spent 43 days in jail following her arrest last year, which will be credited towards her sentence. Additionally, upon her release, she will be required to serve two years of probation.
Blakely declined the request from Gastelum-Vera’s attorney to have the woman serve her sentence under house arrest.
Blakeley expressed that describing the situation as tragic would be an understatement. He emphasized that the current circumstances are as tragic as they can possibly be. He also acknowledged the genuine remorse felt by the person he was addressing.
On October 18, 2023, exactly one year after the tragic incident, Gastelum-Vera discovered Kristofer unresponsive at around 6:30 a.m. Her boyfriend, who had slept in the same room, immediately rushed them to the hospital. Unfortunately, an hour later, Kristofer was pronounced dead.
During the initial interaction with the police, Gastelum-Vera denied having any drugs at her residence. However, upon searching her Fremont home following the tragic death of her son, officers discovered empty baggies contaminated with fentanyl. Furthermore, court records revealed messages on the mother’s phone documenting her acquisition of the narcotic the night preceding her son’s demise.
The case has raised concerns about the growing availability and use of a potent opioid that is 50 times more powerful than heroin, particularly in family households where young children may have easy access to it. Tragically, there have already been cases of toddlers and infants in Brentwood, Livermore, Oakland, and San Jose who have either lost their lives or suffered severe poisoning due to exposure to this dangerous drug.
The safety net for children in Alameda County is also a cause for concern. Upon reviewing the child welfare records of Kristofer, it was discovered that there were inconsistencies in record keeping and troubling discrepancies in how county officials handled the toddler’s tragic death.
According to records obtained by this newspaper, shortly after the incident, a social worker recommended that the boy’s three young siblings be kept in the care of his mother. This recommendation was made despite the fact that the police had just found drug paraphernalia scattered throughout the boy’s bedroom. It is worth noting that the social worker’s initial assessment of the home did not mention the boy’s death.