Darrell Woodson pleads not guilty in connection with death of his 3-year-old daughter

MILWAUKEE -- 35-year-old Darrell Woodson of Milwaukee pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, March 7th to a charge of second-degree reckless homicide - as a party to a crime. This, in connection with the death of his three-year-old daughter. Woodson has been bound over for trial.

34-year-old Margarita Balderas, also charged in connection with this case, was also supposed to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on Tuesday. But online court records indicate she was in a hospital. Balderas' preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for March 16th.

According to the criminal complaint, emergency responders were dispatched to a home near 71st and Glendale on the city's northwest side on Saturday, August 13th. When they arrived on the scene, they found three-year-old London Woodson unresponsive and administered CPR on her. The child was transported to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. London Woodson was declared brain-dead two days later, removed from life support and passed away.

The criminal complaint indicates the three-year-old girl died as a "result of complications from acute mixed drug toxicity," according to the medical examiner.

When police interviewed Margarita Balderas, she told them "London Woodson has never had a normal sleep pattern."

Darrell Woodson

Darrell Woodson also told investigators London had "very odd sleeping patterns, staying up all night and sleeping during the daytime." During that same interview, Darrell Woodson said "approximately ten days ago a prescription bottle of oxycodone spilled in the bedroom of the residence. However, Darrell Woodson was confident he and Margarita Balderas picked up all of the spilled pills."

On February 12th, Milwaukee police received word that Balderas' children were in foster care. After being in foster care, the surviving children "were reporting drug abuse by Margarita Balderas and Darrell Woodson during the time of London Woodson's collapse and subsequent death." Based on that information, investigators arranged to interview the three surviving children.

Margarita Balderas

The complaint indicates the oldest child, age 14, told police Balderas and Woodson "would break off pieces of prescription pills and give the pills to London Woodson in order to get London Woodson to sleep. Both defendants did this on multiple occasions. After London Woodson would take the pill, the defendants would say, 'Yay, good job!'" The 14-year-old also said "the defendant would either use medication that was prescribed to one of the older children, or the defendants used 'street medicine.'"

While at Children's Hospital and before London Woodson's death, the complaint indicates "Darrell Woodson stared at (the 14-year-old child). (The 14-year-old child) knew what Darrell Woodson's stare meant, 'don't snitch.'" Subsequently the child did not say anything at that time.

The second and third children were also interviewed by police. One said Balderas and Woodson "would give the children 'sleeping pills' and 'chilling pills.'" The other child said "Darrell Woodson kept the medicine on a dresser and London Woodson ate it." The child also mentioned the "defendants would put the medicine in London's mouth and then give London a bottle."

If convicted, Balderas and Woodson face up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines. Woodson is next due in court on March 29th.