Albuquerque couple gets 15 years for baby's fentanyl overdose

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman's office announced that Monique Sánchez and Thomas Soto each received 15 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. The sentence follows the 2024 death of a one-year-old boy who died of an overdose at a Super Bowl party held at Soto's apartment near Montgomery Boulevard and Interstate 25.

The couple admitted guilt in July 2026 to charges of child neglect resulting in death and child abuse. According to the prosecution, the pair placed the infant on a sofa to sleep during the gathering. Hours later, they found the child unresponsive, and emergency responders were unable to revive him.

The Office of the Medical Investigator ruled the cause of death as acute intoxication by fentanyl and methamphetamine. Investigators found drug residue on a jacket that was lying on the same sofa where the victim was resting. This evidence linked the substances to the specific location of the incident.

Toxicology tests on two other children living in the home also came back positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine. The results confirmed that the siblings had been exposed to the illegal substances while in the apartment. The sentencing ensures the couple will serve their time under the state correctional system.

The case highlights the dangers of unmonitored exposure to potent drugs in residential settings. Both defendants are now awaiting transfer to a state facility to begin serving their concurrent sentences for the tragic loss of their family member.