PD: Edinburg mom on drug binge charged in death of baby

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 24-year-old mother has been arrested in connection to the death of her 2-month-old daughter.

Viridiana Nieto, the mother of the newborn, had reportedly been on a drug binge and allegedly slept most of the day, according to an Edinburg police investigation.

At 6:20 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of S. Raul Longoria to assist EMS with an unresponsive baby.

When authorities arrived, they found the 2-month-old baby girl unresponsive.

Nieto was at the scene with two other children, a 1 year old and a 4 year old.

The infant was transported by EMS to Edinburg Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Authorities say their investigation into Nieto led to multiple charges being filed against her; including criminally negligent homicide, endangering a child, possession of a controlled substance such as THC vape pens, and possession of marijuana.

A warrant was issued for Nieto’s arrest on April 21. However, at the time, she was in Fort Worth.

The U.S. Marshals helped locate Nieto and take her into custody on May 6.

She was formally arraigned May 15 and issued a bond of $1 million for the criminal negligent homicide, $500,000 for endangering a child, $25,000 for possession of a controlled substance and $7,500 for possession of marijuana.