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Local Woman Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
A grim reminder of the devastating consequences of substance abuse, Agency Village woman Samantha Flute has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in connection with the death of her newborn baby boy.
According to a recent indictment, Flute, 26, gave birth to a fully developed male infant on August 20, 2016. At the time of admission, Flute tested positive for a number of prescription and over-the-counter medications. The cause of death was attributed to a combined drug toxicity of the prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Flute is accused of acting in a grossly negligent manner, with actual knowledge that her conduct was a threat to the life of another, and with actual knowledge that would reasonably enable her to foresee the peril to which her act subjected another.
The charges against Flute are merely accusations, and she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State of South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case. Flute was released to a third-party pending trial, with a trial date set for May 23, 2017. The maximum penalties upon conviction include up to 8 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The community is still reeling from the tragic loss of the young baby boy, and the charges against Flute serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of seeking help when needed.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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