Tragedy Unfolds: Fentanyl Confirmed in Infant's Death at Savage Daycare, Charges Filed

In a heart-wrenching development that has shocked a community, the death of four-month-old Stella Jean Evenson at a Savage daycare in September 2023 has been officially ruled as acute fentanyl toxicity. This devastating finding has led to murder charges against 19-year-old Jacob Kemmer, the son of the daycare provider, casting a dark shadow over child care safety and exposing a terrifying hidden danger.

The initial call on September 27, 2023, reported an unresponsive infant at the KinderCare daycare.

Despite immediate efforts, baby Stella's young life could not be saved, leaving her parents, Adam and Katelyn Evenson, reeling from an unimaginable loss. For months, the cause of death remained a painful mystery, deepening their grief. Then, a crushing revelation emerged: the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's report concluded Stella died from fentanyl poisoning, detected in her tiny system.

The subsequent investigation peeled back layers of a disturbing truth.

Authorities traced the fentanyl back to the daycare provider's home, where Jacob Kemmer, her son, resided. Court documents reveal that Kemmer admitted to using blue M30 fentanyl pills in the residence, leaving them on the floor and other accessible surfaces. He reportedly told investigators that he often used the powerful opioid in his bedroom and bathroom, areas where Stella had also been present before her death.

A search of the Kemmer residence uncovered a grim scene, including a 'fentanyl kit' in Jacob's bedroom containing pills, residue, and drug paraphernalia.

This evidence, combined with Kemmer's admissions, painted a clear picture of rampant drug use in a home where vulnerable children were entrusted with care. The tragic consequence of this reckless behavior was Stella's untimely death, her life cut short by accidental exposure to a deadly substance.

For Adam and Katelyn Evenson, the news of fentanyl being the cause of their daughter’s death arrived months after their initial tragedy, reigniting their pain with fresh horror and anger.

They had placed their trust in a licensed child care facility, believing their baby was safe. Now, they face the devastating reality that their daughter's last moments may have been spent struggling against a poison that should never have been near her.

Following the harrowing discovery and the charges against Jacob Kemmer for third-degree murder, the state of Minnesota suspended, then officially revoked, the daycare's license.

This tragic case has ignited urgent questions about the oversight of home daycares and the need for more stringent inspections, especially concerning potential drug dangers. The Evensons are now fiercely advocating for changes in state law, calling for increased training for child care providers on fentanyl awareness and more thorough, unannounced inspections to prevent similar tragedies.

Their profound sorrow has transformed into a powerful mission to ensure no other family endures the same unspeakable loss.