Marion County judge denies bail for Ocala woman whose baby died from drug overdose
The mother of a 10-month-old baby who authorities said died from a drug overdose will be held at the Marion County Jail without bail, a judge ruled on Sunday.
Standing beside her attorney, Jimmie Sparrow, at the jail, Kacy Joan Kincaid was told by County Judge Lori Cotton that she's been charged with aggravated manslaughter and trafficking in fentanyl.
Kincaid's first court appearance was postponed from Saturday because she requested her attorney's presence for the hearing.
Assistant State Attorney Pete Sziklai told the court on Sunday that the Ocala woman should be held without bail because she's accused of a "dangerous crime." He said prosecutors plan to file a motion for pre-trial detention that, if successful, will prolong the no-bail status until the case is resolved.
Asked by the judge if he (Sparrow) or his client had anything to say, the lawyer said no. The judge told Kincaid her next court date will be Feb. 27, or sooner, depending on when the pre-trial detention hearing is held.
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Why was law enforcement called?
Several days after Kincaid, 33, was taken into custody several months ago, she was sent to Sumter County to address a violation of probation charge. She returned to the Marion County Jail on Friday to face the charges related to her son's death. The victim has been identified as Kaiel Kincaid.
Kincaid has prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance, driving while license suspended or revoked and retail petit theft second offense. Kincaid was released from prison in February 2019 and is on probation until April 2025 for willful child abuse.
In mid-October 2023, Kincaid was arrested by Ocala police officials after her son died at AdventHealth Ocala Hospital. The boy, who's a twin, was transported to the hospital by his parents after his aunt found him unresponsive at Kincaid's residence. The aunt told officers she performed CPR on her nephew.
The aunt told Detective Kyle Kern she went to Kincaid's residence along Northwest 21st Street, knocked on the door, but got no answer. The woman said she entered the residence through a window.
Inside, the relative said, she found Kincaid asleep on a bed with several children. The aunt said Kincaid was under the influence of alcohol. She woke Kincaid and the women argued, police officials said.
The aunt called the child's father to come to the residence. The relative went in a room where she discovered her nephew was stiff and not moving, police officials were told.
During officers' investigation, Kincaid was detained. Searching her, an officer found two baggies in her brassiere that tested positive for fentanyl.
At the police department, Kern was unable to interview Kincaid because she was under the influence and could not hold a conversation, authorities said.
Medical officials said Kaiel's toxicology results revealed several drugs — fentanyl and meth — in the infant's body and ruled the death a homicide. Kincaid also had similar drugs in her body, authorities said.
Detectives got a search warrant and obtained a sample of Kincaid's blood.
Continuing with his investigation, Kern went to the Sumter County Jail in November to interview Kincaid. She refused to talk.
Results from Kincaid's blood test showed the drugs detected in her body also were in her son's system.
A warrant was then issued for Kincaid's arrest.
— Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Bail denied for Ocala woman whose baby died from drug overdose
