CARLSBAD, N.M.— A Carlsbad woman whose grandson died of a drug overdose has been given a prison sentence of almost 20 years. Kelli Smith is the second person to go to jail for the death of Brent Sullivan, who was 12 years old.
An overdose of fentanyl killed Kelli Smith’s grandson and he was found dead in the family shed in 2021. KRQE News 13 talked to the district attorney in charge of the case, and she was pleased with the result. “This is fair.” “Brent finally got justice,” says Dianna Luce, the attorney for the 5th Judicial District.
The judge gave Kelli Smith an 18-year prison term. This is what District Attorney Dianna Luce had to say… Brent Sullivan, her grandson, was found dead in a garage in 2021 from an overdose of fentanyl. The 58-year-old woman from Carlsbad was caught. Smith’s daughter Alexis, who is married to the boy, was also accused and charged. Luce talked about how the cops found Sullivan’s body. Luce said, “When they found him (Bret) in that shed with the full, the little tube, and the pill, they knew right away what it was and knew to get Narcan, but they didn’t call 911 right away.”
Luce said that during Smith’s punishment on Wednesday, text messages and jail calls were shown that showed she admitted to having drugs in the house. Smith even said that she and her daughter moved a stash of drugs while moving Brent’s body before the cops arrived in jail calls.
A police officer who testified on Wednesday got emotional when Luce said they tried to give Brent CPR. “I believe the harm it caused to police will last for a long time.” “The first police officers on the scene were the ones who did CPR on Bret,” Luce said.
Luce said she thinks the sentence will make people more likely to get help if they are abusing drugs. “I hope that this case leads to more addiction treatment options for people.” “That we give the police the money and tools they need to take some of these drugs off the street because they can’t stop everything,” Luce said.
Kelli Smith didn’t say anything during her punishment, but she did write a statement saying she wasn’t guilty. It was also said that Smith would be appealing her sentence. Becky Smith, Brent’s mother, was found guilty of two counts of child abuse. She was given a 14-year prison term and is also appealing her conviction.
