The Hopkin’s County Coroner’s Office revealed last week that Trey Major Harris, the 8-year-old Kentucky boy who was believed to have died from an anaphylactic reaction to strawberries had, in fact, died from fentanyl intoxication.
As we reported, at about 6:30AM on Thursday, March 15, 2024, Madisonville Police were called regarding the boy who was not breathing and found unresponsive.
Upon arrival at the home, they learned that the family had brought the boy to a nearby hospital emergency room the evening before after he developed a rash from eating strawberries purchased at a school fundraiser. He was declared dead a short time later.
Police executed a search warrant at the family’s home and found a firearm, drugs, and drug paraphernalia, according to police.
Whitney Person, the boy’s mother, was subsequently arrested on charges of second-degree manslaughter, conspiracy, and aggravated trafficking of a controlled substance.
Later, Antonio Person, the boy’s stepfather, was arrested on numerous charges, including second-degree manslaughter, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and trafficking of fentanyl.
On April 9, the Hopkins County Health Department issued the following statement after the strawberries were tested:
The Hopkins County Health Department would like to advise that we have received the results from the FDA and state lab concerning the strawberries from the North and Central Fundraiser today. Testing of the strawberries was reported as negative today by the State Epidemiologist. The state Food and Safety Branch has also reviewed the reports.
If you froze the strawberries properly, we are no longer issuing a caution concerning them.
We appreciate the teamwork of the Department of Public Health, the Madisonville Police Department, the Medical Examiner’s Office, Hopkins County Board of Education, and the citizens of Hopkins County.
There were 443 flats distributed by North and 535 flats distributed by Central; these strawberries were distributed by Juicy Fruit LLC, Southern Grown and Sizemore Farms. We appreciate their concern for public safety. We were contacted by their Safety Director who was helpful and supportive.
These strawberries were driven to Frankfort the day of our notification, but extensive lab testing was done, and this takes time. We appreciate your patience and please understand that public safety was our primary concern.
Thank you,
Denise Beach, MS, BSN, RN
Public Health Director
Hopkins County Health Department
- 8-year-old Kentucky boy died from fentanyl not from eating strawberries, coroner reveals — USA Today
- Kentucky boy, 8, died from fentanyl intoxication not allergic reaction to strawberries: coroner — NBC5 Chicago
- STEPFATHER OF 8-YEAR-OLD HOPKINS CO. BOY WHO DIED AFTER EATING STRAWBERRIES ARRESTED ON FENTANYL TRAFFICKING, OTHER CHARGES — K105
More Questions Than Answers About Death of 8-Year-Old Boy from Strawberries Purchased at Fundraiser
