Salem man gets six years in prison after daughter dies of fentanyl overdose

September 5, 2024 4:47 PM • Last Updated: September 5, 2024 4:47 PM

A New London judge on Thursday sentenced a Salem man whose 1-year-old daughter died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022 to six years in prison.

Travis J. Schubel, 39, previously pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and risk of injury to a minor in connection with the Feb. 8, 2022, death of his daughter. He also pleaded guilty Thursday to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The baby was found unresponsive in “deplorable conditions” in Schubel’s home, where police found open containers of alcohol, baggies of fentanyl, methadone, needles and other drug paraphernalia.

The child’s death was ruled a homicide caused by “acute intoxication with fentanyl and xylazine.” Xylazine is a tranquilizer that is sometimes mixed with fentanyl to prolong the euphoric effects of the drug. Police believe the child may have been exposed to the drugs while in the home.

Ricki J. Thomas, the child’s mother who also lived at the home, remains in jail on $750,000 bail and faces similar charges as Schubel. She is scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Sept. 12.

Schubel has multiple convictions in seven previous cases between 2017 and 2019, including assault, drug possession, DUI, probation violation and other charges. Until his conviction in this case, his longest previous prison sentence was one year.

He faces seven other charges, including multiple failures to appear in court, driving under the influence, drug possession, evading responsibility, and driving on a suspended license and driving without a license.