— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
An Allentown woman will spend 5 to 15 years in prison for charges related to the fentanyl death of her 22-month-old son.
In 2021, Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, now 36, left her son Johansy Suarez-Rivas with the boy’s father, Jorge Suarez-Santiago, 33, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan. Suarez-Santiago is from Milwaukee.
The boy’s father was “visibly intoxicated” when Johansy and two other children were left in his car, according to the District Attorney’s press release. Johansy was exposed to a lethal dose of the drug, according to the investigation.
“The investigation revealed that both Suarez-Santiago and Rivas-Rodriguez had used heroin in the hours before their son was declared dead,” according to the statement.
Johansy died from fentanyl toxicity, according to Holihan.
Rivas-Rodriguez “pleaded guilty in November 2024 to charges of Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony of the second degree; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a felony of the first degree. A previous charge of Murder of the Third Degree was withdrawn,” Holihan’s statement said.
Suarez-Santiago, the boy’s father, “pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025 to charges of Involuntary Manslaughter, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Possession of a Controlled Substance,” according to the statement. He will be sentenced June 16 before Lehigh County Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks.
May 5, 2025
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a state prison sentence for an Allentown woman
charged in the death of her 22-month-old toddler.
Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, DOB 4/1/1989, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to charges of
Involuntary Manslaughter, a felony of the second degree; and Endangering the Welfare of a
Child, a felony of the first degree. A previous charge of Murder of the Third Degree was
withdrawn.
Rivas-Rodriguez was sentenced today to serve 5 to 15 years in prison after a hearing before
Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks.
Also charged is Jorge Suarez-Santiago, DOB 3/13/1992, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He pleaded
guilty on March 27, 2025 to charges of Involuntary Manslaughter, Endangering the Welfare of a
Child and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Suarez-Santiago is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. June 16, 2025 before Judge Marks.
On April 5, 2021, Allentown Police were called to St. Luke’s Hospital, Sacred Heart, for a report
of a toddler who was not breathing. The 22-month-old toddler, Johansy Suarez-Rivas, was
pronounced deceased at the hospital a short time later.
Johansy died from fentanyl toxicity and the amount of fentanyl in his heart blood was measured
at 16.5 nanograms per millimeter. A forensic pathologist opined that Johansy died approximately
between the morning of April 5, 2021 and noon of the same day.
Suarez-Santiago and Rivas-Rodriguez are the parents of Johansy and had a duty of care,
protection and support for their child.
The investigation revealed that both Suarez-Santiago and Rivas-Rodriguez had used heroin in the hours before their son was declared dead.
Suarez-Santiago was alone with his son while Rivas-Rodriguez left their apartment at 106 N. 8th
St. for several hours that day with two other children. The Commonwealth alleges that Rivas
Rodriguez left their son in the care of Suarez-Santiago knowing that he was visibly intoxicated.
Rivas-Rodriguez also provided Suarez-Santiago with what she believed to be heroin prior to
leaving Johansy in his care that day.
Rivas-Rodriguez discovered their son unresponsive after she returned home where Suarez
Santiago had been responsible for caring for the toddler for several hours.
The investigation revealed Johansy was exposed to and ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl while
in the care of his parents who both consciously disregarded the high risk that their reckless use
and handling of illegal narcotics was likely to cause death or serious bodily injury to their child.
The case was investigated by Allentown Police Detective Joseph Beiner and the Lehigh County
Coroner’s Office and was prosecuted by District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Chief Deputy
District Attorney Sara A. Moyer.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 