Samantha Flute, Involuntary Manslaughter, SD 2024

AGENCY VILLAGE, SD – A South Dakota woman is facing federal charges after her newborn son died from a lethal combination of drugs found in her system. Samantha Flute, 26, of Agency Village, was indicted by a grand jury and charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, according to United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler.

The indictment alleges that on or about August 20, 2016, Flute gave birth to a fully developed male infant. At the time of admission to a medical facility, Flute tested positive for a cocktail of prescription and over-the-counter medications. The subsequent investigation determined the baby’s death was caused by combined drug toxicity – a deadly mix stemming from those same medications.

Prosecutors claim Flute acted with gross negligence, possessing “actual knowledge that her conduct was a threat to the life of another,” and that she “reasonably should have foreseen the peril” her actions would cause the infant. The indictment doesn’t detail exactly *how* Flute’s actions constituted gross negligence, leaving a trail of unanswered questions as the case proceeds.

Flute appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on March 21, 2017, and entered a plea of not guilty. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of up to 8 years in federal prison, along with a potential fine of $250,000. Beyond imprisonment, the sentence could include 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 contribution to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, with the possibility of restitution ordered by the court.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is leading the prosecution. Flute has been released to a third-party custodian pending her trial, which is currently scheduled for May 23, 2017.

It’s crucial to remember that these are merely accusations at this stage. Flute is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on developments as they unfold. The details surrounding the specific drugs involved and the circumstances of the birth remain sealed within the court documents.

RELATED: Milwaukee Mom Bilks Pregnant Women, Gets 10 Years

RELATED: Four Men, One Gun: Salt Lake City Robbery Spree Exposed