Mom arrested after child dies from kratom in Ponchatoula | Crime/Police

Mom arrested after child dies from kratom in Ponchatoula | Crime/Police
October 23, 2026

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Mom arrested after child dies from kratom in Ponchatoula | Crime/Police

A woman and her boyfriend were arrested after her two-year-old child died from the toxic effects of ingesting kratom, Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson said Friday.

Brooke Harter, 31, and Dominick Cenni, 27, were arrested on several charges, including negligent homicide.

On Aug. 24, the Ponchatoula police began an investigation into the toddler’s death, interviewing Harter and Cenni. Arrest warrants were issued for the pair after an autopsy report concluded that the child died from Dihydro-7-hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine, known as kratom.

Cenni turned himself in on Thursday and Harter followed suit on Friday, police said.

Both face counts of negligent homicide, cruelty to juveniles and criminal abandonment, while Cenni also faces a count of obstruction of justice.

The investigation is ongoing. Police have not disclosed how the child got access to kratom.

Kratom was banned in Louisiana last year.

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