A Texas man has been convicted of manslaughter in the death of his baby daughter, after prosecutors claimed he gave the infant Benadryl to spend “quality time” with his wife.
Adam Canales Jr. was convicted in Lubbock County on Thursday, Aug. 28, in the July 2021 death of his 2-month-old daughter, Athena Brigida-Kay Canales, according to local news outlets KCBD 11 and KLBK News.
Adam is awaiting sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison, according to KCBD 11. Sarah Canales, the child’s mother, is also charged with manslaughter in relation to Athena’s death and is currently awaiting trial.
According to KLBK, District Attorney Sunshine Stanek claimed in closing statements that Adam gave his baby the over-the-counter, sleep-inducing allergy medication in order to spend “quality time” with his wife.
Stanek previously described Adam’s actions as “selfish and reckless,” according to the Lubbock-Avalanche Journal.
“This defendant was so selfish and reckless in his actions that he caused the death of Athena,” she said, adding, “They made a habit of giving their children, including Athena, sleeping pills. When they were tired and wanted some adult time, they dosed her.
Adam’s attorney, Kristopher Mincey, argued that the death was unintentional, claiming that there was a lot going on that day in the six-child household and that Adam and his wife failed to communicate that they had each given Athena Benadryl on separate occasions, according to KCBD and KLBK.
D.A. Sunshine Stanek, defense attorney Kristopher Mincey, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, August 31.
Lubbock County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive child in the family’s home on July 11, 2021, around 4 p.m. local time, according to an arrest warrant obtained by KLBK at the time. According to the outlet, Athena died when they arrived.
Adam initially denied giving the drug to the child, but he later admitted to doing so after an autopsy revealed that Athena died from “mixed drug toxicity,” according to the warrant obtained by KLBK.
