Two Arrested in Death of 8-year-old Boy Who Ingested Illegal Drugs in Coatesville

COATESVILLE, Pennsylvania – The Chester County District Attorney’s Office stated Tuesday that two persons have been arrested in connection with the death of an 8-year-old in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, after he swallowed illegal substances last summer.

Holly Back, 40, and Mousa Hawa, 41, of Coatesville, were arrested in July 2023 on charges relating to a child’s death, according to a news release from the district attorney, the Coatesville Police Department, and the Chester County Detectives.

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Coatesville police responded to a complaint of a child in cardiac arrest at a home on the 500 block of East Lincoln Highway early on July 26, 2023, according to the statement. The infant had “ashen skin” and was beginning to become blue in the lips and ears when police came, and Hawa was administering CPR, according to the release. The police took over CPR.

The infant was taken to Chester County Hospital by ambulance but died there, according to the statement.

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Officials confirmed that Hawa is the child’s biological father. Both suspects have been charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and related offenses. Both are in Chester County Prison, with bond set at $1 million apiece, according to court filings.

The house was found “littered with drug paraphernalia,” including pill bottles and a shoebox with hundreds of “fentanyl/heroin bags” that were either empty or retained residue, according to the release. According to the announcement, Hawa told detectives that the child was not permitted to come into contact with illegal narcotics.

Investigators discovered text messages about drug use on Back’s and Hawa’s phones.

According to the news release, tests on the child’s hair, blood, and urine revealed cocaine and fentanyl, as well as evidence of previous fentanyl exposure.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for June 12.