Daleville woman sentenced in infant death case

A Daleville woman has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the overdose death of her nine-month-old son.

According to District Attorney Kirke Adams, Brieana Farmer pleaded guilty in a "blind plea," which is a guilty plea without a set sentence. Her range of punishment was two-20 years in prison.

Adams said Farmer was sentenced to 17 years in the state penitentiary following a four-hour sentencing hearing.

In Jan. 11, 2016, Ozark/Dale County E911 received a call in reference to an unresponsive infant in the 200 Block of Meadow Lane in Daleville, according to previous reports of the Daleville Sun-Courier.

Initial reports were that officers from the Daleville Police Department and deputies from the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, along with Daleville Rescue, responded to the scene and found a nine-month-old male deceased.

On Aug. 11, 2016, Farmer was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of the child. At the time of her arrest, she was also charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and second-degree possession of marijuana.

Officers, while executing the search warrant for manslaughter, discovered a large marijuana grow in the residence, Chief Deputy Mason Bynum said at the time of Farmer's arrest.

Brandon Kirkland, of Ozark, who was romantically involved with Farmer, was also arrested and charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and first-degree possession of marijuana.

Both Farmer and Kirkland were released on bond. District Judge Stan Garner set a $120,000 bond for Farmer and a $75,000 bond for Kirkland on Aug. 12.

"While processing the (death) scene (in January) deputies located a small amount of marijuana inside the residence," Bynum said in 2016. "Investigators continued to work the case pending the toxicology report and final autopsy findings from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

"Based on the final report of death by toxicity, investigators obtained a warrant for manslaughter for the victim’s mother.”

The toxicology report indicated the baby had 20 times the recommended dose of an over the counter drug, Benadryl, in his system. The child also tested positive for meth.