Grieving father fights for mandatory fentanyl testing after his 3-year-old dies

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After losing his 3-year-old son Leonardo 'Leo' Towe to a fentanyl overdose, Jacob Towe is advocating for mandatory fentanyl testing in child welfare cases under the Department of Human Services (DHS) supervision. The proposed 'Leo's Law' would require fentanyl testing and could lead to felony charges for parents exposing children to the deadly drug. Towe is working with other parents who have lost children to fentanyl poisoning to raise awareness and push for the law's passage, which would make Oklahoma the first state to include fentanyl testing in its child protection efforts.

Why it matters

Fentanyl has become the deadliest drug in America, with just 2 milligrams - the size of a fraction of a penny - enough to cause an overdose. This tragic case highlights the urgent need to strengthen child welfare policies and protect vulnerable children from the growing fentanyl crisis. Leo's Law could set a precedent for other states to follow and save young lives.

The details

Jacob Towe's 3-year-old son Leonardo 'Leo' Towe died in June 2024 from a fentanyl overdose in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Both parents shared joint custody, and Leo's mother was under DHS supervision at the time. Despite completing drug tests, the mother was reunited with Leo, and he died just 3-4 months later. Towe was shocked to learn fentanyl was not included in the drug testing, a gap he is now working to address with the introduction of 'Leo's Law'.

• Leo Towe died in June 2024.
• The autopsy results came back about 6 months after Leo's death.

What they’re saying

What’s next

If passed, Leo's Law would make Oklahoma the first state in the nation to include fentanyl in its child welfare drug testing requirements. The law would also allow for felony charges against parents who expose children to fentanyl.