Mother, man charged in connection with death of two-year-old

MILWAUKEE (WITI) – FOX6 News has learned the mother of a nearly three-year-old boy found dead inside an apartment near 95th and Sheridan back in September is now facing criminal charges -- along with a 25-year-old man.

23-year-old Shanika Thomas and 25-year-old Marques Love face charges in the case.

Thomas faces one count of possession of narcotic drugs, and one count of possession of THC.

Love faces one count of keeping a drug house.

A criminal complaint in the case says police were called out to the residence on in the 9400 block of W. Sheridan back on September 20th -- to investigate the death of Thomas' two-year-old child.

The complaint says one month later, a detective was informed by the Medical Examiner that there were high levels of morphine in the child's system -- and a detective returned to the W. Sheridan address to follow up.

The complaint says Thomas agreed to a search of the home -- at which time officials discovered a small amount of marijuana in the residence, a digital scale in plain view and several plastic bags with the corners missing.

In the bedroom, the complaint says officials discovered a bag containing suspected marijuana in between the mattress and box spring.

The complaint says a prescription pill bottle containing 78 pills was also found inside a close in the same bedroom. The complaint says the name portion of the label was ripped off.

When asked about the pills, the complaint says Thomas told officials she found them in her home when she moved in, and had placed them in the closet so the child would not get them.

The pills were identified as morphine.

Officials interviewed Love, who said he goes to the residence every two days, and stays the night.

The complaint says Love told officials the digital scale and bags were his -- saying he sells marijuana int he area of N. 12th Street and Chambers.

The complaint says Love told officials he had bagged up marijuana twice at the residence, and had given Thomas the marijuana recovered by officers.