Topline: The child’s mother has been charged with manslaughter after officials said her child was given a lethal amount of an over-the-counter antihistamine.
Published: April 18, 2026 3:46 pm ET
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Rebecca Jordan (via Saratoga County Sheriff's Office)
HALFMOON, NY — A New York mother is facing felony charges after authorities say her 10-year-old son died from an overdose of a common over-the-counter medication earlier this year.
According to WNYT, emergency crews were called to the D and R Village Community Mobile Home Park on Route 146 around 9:40 a.m. on Jan. 19 for a report of an unresponsive child. The boy was found inside a mobile home and later pronounced dead.
Investigators said toxicology results recently determined the child died from an overdose of diphenhydramine, an antihistamine commonly found in Benadryl.
Saratoga County Sheriff’s officials arrested 43-year-old Rebecca Jordan on Wednesday, April 15. She is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child.
Authorities allege Jordan gave her son an excessive amount of the medication. Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown said the dosage was high enough to kill an adult, according to WTEN-TV.
Prosecutors said the overdose led to fatal complications, including aspiration of stomach contents and impaired breathing.
“It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s not something that we see regularly,” Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby told WNYT. “The toxicology reports and investigation yielded something that is unseen to most prosecutors and law enforcement personnel.”
Eby added that the amount administered went far beyond what would be considered reasonable.
“The amount and the dosage here is far beyond what is even, what a reasonable juror would expect is appropriate for a parent in this situation,” he said.
When asked whether there was any indication the child had asked for help sleeping, Eby said investigators found no such evidence.
“No, I think it was an effort to parent and deal with in a neglectful way obviously but to administer and to try to deal with some sort of perceived behavioral issues,” Eby said.
Authorities also allege Jordan attempted to conceal the medication bottle to prevent it from being used in an official proceeding.
“Child death cases are among the most tragic that we handle and I am extremely proud of the true professionals that worked this case,” Sheriff Jeffrey R. Brown said, according to WTEN-TV. “We will always be a deafening voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and I look forward to justice being served for this innocent boy.”
WNYT reported that warning labels on Benadryl packaging advise against using the medication to help children sleep.
Longtime pharmacist John McDonald told the station he had never heard of a fatal overdose involving diphenhydramine.
“We’ve gotten away from recommending it only because it causes drowsiness and it’s not good for adults particularly for driving,” McDonald said. “And we’ve moved away from recommending it for children. That’s why Claritin or Zyrtec are more effective options.”
Jordan was arraigned in Malta Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail. She is expected to appear at a later date in Halfmoon Town Court.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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The child’s mother has been charged with manslaughter after officials said her child was given a lethal amount of an over-the-counter antihistamine.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 18, 2026 3:46 pm ET
Rebecca Jordan (via Saratoga County Sheriff's Office)
HALFMOON, NY — A New York mother is facing felony charges after authorities say her 10-year-old son died from an overdose of a common over-the-counter medication earlier this year.
According to WNYT, emergency crews were called to the D and R Village Community Mobile Home Park on Route 146 around 9:40 a.m. on Jan. 19 for a report of an unresponsive child. The boy was found inside a mobile home and later pronounced dead.
Investigators said toxicology results recently determined the child died from an overdose of diphenhydramine, an antihistamine commonly found in Benadryl.
Saratoga County Sheriff’s officials arrested 43-year-old Rebecca Jordan on Wednesday, April 15. She is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child.
Authorities allege Jordan gave her son an excessive amount of the medication. Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown said the dosage was high enough to kill an adult, according to WTEN-TV.
Prosecutors said the overdose led to fatal complications, including aspiration of stomach contents and impaired breathing.
“It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s not something that we see regularly,” Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby told WNYT. “The toxicology reports and investigation yielded something that is unseen to most prosecutors and law enforcement personnel.”
Eby added that the amount administered went far beyond what would be considered reasonable.
“The amount and the dosage here is far beyond what is even, what a reasonable juror would expect is appropriate for a parent in this situation,” he said.
When asked whether there was any indication the child had asked for help sleeping, Eby said investigators found no such evidence.
“No, I think it was an effort to parent and deal with in a neglectful way obviously but to administer and to try to deal with some sort of perceived behavioral issues,” Eby said.
Authorities also allege Jordan attempted to conceal the medication bottle to prevent it from being used in an official proceeding.
“Child death cases are among the most tragic that we handle and I am extremely proud of the true professionals that worked this case,” Sheriff Jeffrey R. Brown said, according to WTEN-TV. “We will always be a deafening voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and I look forward to justice being served for this innocent boy.”
WNYT reported that warning labels on Benadryl packaging advise against using the medication to help children sleep.
Longtime pharmacist John McDonald told the station he had never heard of a fatal overdose involving diphenhydramine.
“We’ve gotten away from recommending it only because it causes drowsiness and it’s not good for adults particularly for driving,” McDonald said. “And we’ve moved away from recommending it for children. That’s why Claritin or Zyrtec are more effective options.”
Jordan was arraigned in Malta Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail. She is expected to appear at a later date in Halfmoon Town Court.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Sheriff: Child Given Enough Benadryl to Kill an Adult
The child’s mother has been charged with manslaughter after officials said her child was given a lethal amount of an over-the-counter antihistamine.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 18, 2026 3:46 pm ET
Rebecca Jordan (via Saratoga County Sheriff's Office)
HALFMOON, NY — A New York mother is facing felony charges after authorities say her 10-year-old son died from an overdose of a common over-the-counter medication earlier this year.
According to WNYT, emergency crews were called to the D and R Village Community Mobile Home Park on Route 146 around 9:40 a.m. on Jan. 19 for a report of an unresponsive child. The boy was found inside a mobile home and later pronounced dead.
Investigators said toxicology results recently determined the child died from an overdose of diphenhydramine, an antihistamine commonly found in Benadryl.
Saratoga County Sheriff’s officials arrested 43-year-old Rebecca Jordan on Wednesday, April 15. She is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child.
Authorities allege Jordan gave her son an excessive amount of the medication. Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown said the dosage was high enough to kill an adult, according to WTEN-TV.
Prosecutors said the overdose led to fatal complications, including aspiration of stomach contents and impaired breathing.
“It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s not something that we see regularly,” Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby told WNYT. “The toxicology reports and investigation yielded something that is unseen to most prosecutors and law enforcement personnel.”
Eby added that the amount administered went far beyond what would be considered reasonable.
“The amount and the dosage here is far beyond what is even, what a reasonable juror would expect is appropriate for a parent in this situation,” he said.
When asked whether there was any indication the child had asked for help sleeping, Eby said investigators found no such evidence.
“No, I think it was an effort to parent and deal with in a neglectful way obviously but to administer and to try to deal with some sort of perceived behavioral issues,” Eby said.
Authorities also allege Jordan attempted to conceal the medication bottle to prevent it from being used in an official proceeding.
“Child death cases are among the most tragic that we handle and I am extremely proud of the true professionals that worked this case,” Sheriff Jeffrey R. Brown said, according to WTEN-TV. “We will always be a deafening voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and I look forward to justice being served for this innocent boy.”
WNYT reported that warning labels on Benadryl packaging advise against using the medication to help children sleep.
Longtime pharmacist John McDonald told the station he had never heard of a fatal overdose involving diphenhydramine.
“We’ve gotten away from recommending it only because it causes drowsiness and it’s not good for adults particularly for driving,” McDonald said. “And we’ve moved away from recommending it for children. That’s why Claritin or Zyrtec are more effective options.”
Jordan was arraigned in Malta Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail. She is expected to appear at a later date in Halfmoon Town Court.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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