PORTLAND, Ore. — It’s been four days since Dominique Hodges’ 2-year-old cousin Aurora died from a suspected fentanyl overdose.
“I was heartbroken. That is one of the worst things that could happen to anyone,” Hodges said.
Around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Portland police responded to a call for 2-year-old in cardiac arrest at a Northeast Portland mobile home park. A sign outside the park reads “Happy Children at Play.” Aurora died at the hospital despite attempts to save her.
“They said that she passed from a suspected fentanyl overdose, that she had gotten a hold of it from a piece of tin foil or a pill that was lying around,” said Hodges.
It's unclear if the fentanyl Aurora consumed was her mother's, since there were other people in the house at the time.
“The mom went to go check on her and had rolled her over and when she rolled her over her lips were blue,” added Tina Thomas, Aurora’s aunt.
When Aurora was younger, she often lived with Thomas when her father, who also struggles with addiction, was in rehab.
“She was super funny, she was always like super bubbly and had these really big brown eyes — and even from a newborn baby her hair was like super long and crazy,” Hodges remembered fondly.
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The family learned late Thursday that Aurora was staying with her mother at a friend’s house despite her mother not having custody of Aurora.
“The ambulance was on the way and the mom jumped up and said, 'I can't do this' and ran out the door,” Thomas said. The mother had outstanding warrants and she did not want to be caught by police, the family said.
Police are still searching for the mother and have not yet released her name.
“I think she's probably hiding with her friends and they're protecting her because that's what they do in the drug community,” Hodges said.
The family said she has a history of addiction and has three kids, including an 8-year-old boy who was also there at the time of Aurora's overdose.
“Anybody that was in that house who was an adult who participated in the drugs, drug activity, while they watched this little baby wander around the house while they are all getting high doing drugs, I want every one of them accountable," said Thomas. "If they have an addiction, that’s on them — but they didn’t have to risk her life … I don’t think rehab is going to help them. I think prison will."
Aurora’s father is also missing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Portland police.
Meanwhile, there is a GoFundMe to raise money for Aurora's funeral.
"She deserves to be buried. She deserves to be laid to rest," Thomas said.
More Than A Number aims to help give a face and a voice to victims and families impacted by tragedies. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a homicide and would like to share your story, you can reach out to us by sending an email to morethananumber@kgw.com.