Authorities have accused a Connecticut man of sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter, who was found dead in her home. The girl had a lethal dose of diphenhydramine in her system, an active ingredient in Benadryl, according to officials.
Anthony Federline, aged 39, faced charges in April, including first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. This occurred following the death of Eve Rogers, as reported by the Enfield Police Department.
Authorities are now investigating Federline’s Facebook and Snapchat accounts, as well as the family’s CVS Caremark and two Amazon accounts. This follows the issuance of court documents related to the girl’s death, as stated by WFLA.
Rogers was discovered deceased in her home on March 18. Court documents reveal her mother found her on the bedroom floor, partially unclothed, and covered with a blanket. There were bodily fluids seen coming from her nose.
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A sexual assault examination was conducted on Rogers before her autopsy. Federline was identified as one of the contributors from a DNA swab, according to an arrest warrant cited by WFLA. No charges have yet been filed regarding her death.
The medical examiner informed the police that toxicology results showed a lethal dose of diphenhydramine. Additionally, fluoxetine, known as Prozac, was in her system despite not being prescribed to her, according to search warrants reported by WFLA.
The toxicology report listed diphenhydramine levels at 23,000 ng/ml in Rogers’ blood. Lethal levels are identified at 4,390 ng/ml for children and 14,720 ng/ml for adults. The examiner stated Rogers must have consumed about 1.8 liters of liquid diphenhydramine to reach such levels.
Federline, who was charged with first-degree sexual assault and risking injury to a minor, pled not guilty, as reported by the Enfield Police Department.
Investigators have not determined how Rogers ingested the large quantity of diphenhydramine. Her mother informed detectives about purchasing medication, Sleep Aid capsules, and a “sexual pleasure device” for her daughter on Amazon. However, no dyes from the capsules were found in the girl’s system, even though high diphenhydramine levels were detected.
Rogers’ mother also mentioned finding inappropriate online conversations involving her daughter. Despite this, police did not find evidence of these exchanges during their search.
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The medical examiner reiterated that toxicology showed a lethal dosage of diphenhydramine in the girl’s system, according to FOX61. Federline admitted to using apps like Facebook and Snapchat to communicate with his stepdaughter, claiming the nature of their conversations was not sexual.
Investigators are currently examining Federline’s online activities from the months preceding Rogers’ death. Federline pled not guilty to charges relating to sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.