This is terrible news out of Massachusetts, about the death of an 8-year-old boy back in January... In Quincy, 39-year-old Li Rong Zhang faces first-degree murder charges in the death of son, Brandon Yang. Investigators believe she tried to set fire to her apartment in an attempted murder-suicide: Quincy boy killed by fumes also had excessive meds in his system.Firefighters found the boy dead on January 13, aftera fire was set in a hibachi grill, and the doors barricaded, inside the family's apartment, According to the state medical examiner, the third grader died because he was "administered excess medication and exposed to carbon monoxide fumes":
The medication was diphenhydramine, an antihistamine used to treat allergies. Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in over-the-counter medications such as Benadryl and is in many nonprescription sleep aids.It's a nightmare. There's no real way to properly explain something like this.
The death certificate says Brandon was dead on arrival at Quincy Medical Center. His mother, Li Rong Zhang, 39, is charged with murdering him. Investigators say it was the result of a murder-suicide try.
Firefighters responding to Zhang's apartment on Yardarm Lane in Germantown on Jan. 13 found a bureau had been placed in front of the door to a room where Zhang and Brandon were found unconscious. Brandon was face-down on a bed, Zhang on the bedroom floor.
A wok, a lighter and charcoal briquettes were also found in the room, which had filled with smoke.
Zhang's other son, who is 16, called 911 after returning home from school and finding doors locked.
The mother is being held without bail in state prison pending a probable cause hearing in Quincy District Court, and has undergone a psychiatric evaluation. Her lawyer has entered a not guilty plea on her behalf. More here: Quincy mother charged after 8-year-old dies in suspected murder-suicide plot.