San Francisco Couple Charged with Murder Over Toddler's Fentanyl Overdose

Prosecutors allege parents were aware of the lethal danger of fentanyl in their home.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:51am by

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An extreme close-up of a small plastic bag containing a white powdery substance, starkly lit by a harsh camera flash against a pitch-black background, conveying the serious, investigative nature of this tragic case.A grim reminder of the deadly fentanyl crisis as prosecutors seek justice for a toddler's preventable overdose death.San Francisco Today

A San Francisco toddler's fatal fentanyl overdose earlier this year has resulted in second-degree murder charges against the child's parents, 38-year-old Michelle Price and her boyfriend, 43-year-old Steve Ramirez. Police discovered fentanyl and drug paraphernalia at the home, and an autopsy determined the cause of death to be acute fentanyl toxicity.

Why it matters

This is the first murder case filed in San Francisco in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose, marking a significant escalation in prosecutors' efforts to hold parents accountable for overdose deaths involving their children. The case highlights the growing public health crisis of fentanyl overdoses, especially among vulnerable populations like young children.

The details

On February 12, police responded to a 911 call about a child not breathing at a home on 18th Street near Dolores Park. Medics pronounced the two-year-old child dead and observed signs the child had been deceased for several hours. Authorities found fentanyl and drug paraphernalia at the home, and an autopsy determined the cause of death to be acute fentanyl toxicity. Prosecutors allege Price and Ramirez were aware of the lethal danger of fentanyl in their home.

  • On February 12, 2026, police responded to a 911 call about a child not breathing at around 5:16 a.m.
  • On Wednesday, April 16, 2026, the district attorney announced the murder charges against the parents.

The players

Michelle Price

The 38-year-old mother of the deceased toddler, who has been charged with second-degree murder.

Steve Ramirez

The 43-year-old boyfriend of Michelle Price, who has also been charged with second-degree murder.

Brooke Jenkins

The San Francisco District Attorney who announced the murder charges against the parents.

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What they’re saying

“It was clear to me that the parents were aware of its lethality and danger of fentanyl. There wasn't really anywhere safe for this child to be inside of this home.”

— Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney

What’s next

The motion to amend the complaint charging the parents with murder is scheduled to be heard on Thursday at the Hall of Justice.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the urgent need for greater education, prevention, and harm reduction efforts around the fentanyl crisis, especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable children from exposure to this deadly drug.