A Waterloo woman is facing charges following an overdose death of a child who was in her care.

Police took 38-year-old Amanda Leonard-Helum, 38, into custody Wednesday on a charge of child endangerment causing death. According to a press release, the charge is connected to the death of her boyfriend's two-year-old son in Des Moines nearly two months ago.

According to a press release, Des Moines police and local paramedics were called to an apartment complex on June 27 to investigate a report of an unresponsive child. They arrived at 3600 E. Douglas Ave. shortly after 7:30 AM to find a deceased two-year-old boy inside one of the units.

Authorities said Leonard-Helum was caring for the little boy and another four-year-old child, who were not related to each other, on June 26 when she drove them from Waterloo to Des Moines. During the drive, Leonard-Helum discovered the two-year-old had ingested some pills that were prescribed to her.

Des Moines police said Leonard-Helum chose to monitor the children overnight, instead of seeking medical care. The two-year-old boy was discovered dead less than 14 hours after the woman and kids arrived in Des Moines.

Toxicology reports show that the child's death during the night was due to an overdose of the medications he ingested.

The four-year-old was examined at a local hospital. Des Moines police said there was no indication
that the child ingested any medications or was otherwise endangered.

Leonard-Helum's bond was set at $25,000 after she was booked into the Polk County Jail.

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