Mixon Pleads Guilty in Child’s Death

Muskingum County- A Columbus man who had relocated to Zanesville admitted his guilt in causing the drug overdose death of his 13-month-old son.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office said 40-year-old Anthony Mixon pleaded guilty to felony child endangering and involuntary manslaughter.

Authorities said on August 26, law enforcement responded to an emergency call about a deceased baby. Mixon’s mother, who was at the home, told police Mixon was a known fentanyl user and was in the home earlier in the evening, but she was unaware when he left.

The grandmother admitted to giving the child an adult-strength melatonin pill, to help the child sleep. She told authorities she noticed the child was groggy, but thought it was because of the melatonin. Around 3am, the grandmother noticed the child wasn’t breathing and was cold.

Authorities said an autopsy determined the death was a result of acute and toxic drug overdose. Toxicology reports
showed the baby had fentanyl and cocaine in his bloodstream.

Mixon also pleaded guilty to charges that he bit a deputy officer while he was in jail on a suicide watch.