Allegheny County, PA – On Friday, May 7, 2021 Carnegie Police began to investigate the death of a 4-year-old child. Through the investigation, detectives determined that the child had ingested Fentanyl while under the care of his father.
On July 2, 2021, Van Redding was charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Redding is currently housed in the Allegheny County Jail.
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported: According to a criminal complaint, Redding told officers that he picked the boy up around 1 p.m. on May 7 for a family birthday party, where they remained until about 6 p.m. After going to the Tanger Outlets in Washington County, the pair stopped at McDonald’s around 8 p.m.
Once at Redding’s apartment, the boy ate his Happy Meal at the coffee table in the living room, then began throwing up and seemed unsteady on his feet, Redding told police. He took the boy to St. Clair Hospital but was involved in a hit-and-run collision on the way there. Redding first told authorities about his son being ill while being questioned by Mt. Lebanon police regarding the crash. The complaint does not specify if Redding was responsible for the crash.
The complaint says Redding consented to a search of his residence on Hulton Street, where police found medical marijuana on the coffee table. Redding led them to a drop ceiling panel in the bedroom, where investigators found stamp bags, a baggie of white powder and a bundle of cash.
The investigation is ongoing.
