HOUSTON (AP) – A Houston woman is accused of killing her 6-year-old son in an effort to collect on two life insurance policies.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said Thursday 25-year-old Ashley Marks repeatedly gave her son doses of medications and over the counter drugs that caused him frightening hallucinations before he died in June.
According to an autopsy report, Mark’s son’s death was ruled a homicide and toxic amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and various antihistamines were found in his body.
The Associated Press reports that court documents show the boy’s grandfather, Adam Marks, told Houston police that after Mark’s allegedly medicated her son, the boy suffered hallucinations and “believed there were bugs on his clothing.”
Adam Marks also told police that his daughter allegedly gave his grandson Nyquil, which should not be given to children under 12, a few hours before he died.
During the investigation, authorities discovered Ashley Marks took out two $50,000 life insurance polices on her son, for which she was the sole beneficiary, about a month before the child died.
Marks is facing a capital murder charge and is being held without bond.
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