It was originally believed that a boy who died in March 2024 died from an allergic reaction, but new details have been released about the cause of his death. Trey Major Harris, 8, of Kentucky, was found unresponsive on Friday, March 15, and his family had said that he consumed strawberries that appeared to lead to an allergic reaction. However, his cause of death was ruled as "Fentanyl Intoxication," WEVV reported on April 10.
The boy's stepfather, Antonio Person, 33, was arrested in March and charged with fentanyl trafficking and other crimes, the outlet reported.
The night before Trey's death, he attended a school fundraiser and ate strawberries there, according to his family. His family also said he took Benadryl after he started to experience what appeared to be an allergic reaction, reported People.
Trey was eventually taken to an emergency room but did not see a physician there, according to his family.
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He went back home, fell asleep, then was found unresponsive in his room in the morning.
After his tragic death, the Hopkins County Health Department warned people in the community to not eat strawberries at two local high schools, and samples of the strawberries were sent for testing, reported WEVV.
The Hopkins County Health Department later reported that the strawberries tested "negative" and they were deemed safe to consume.
Though Trey's death was not caused by an allergic reaction to strawberries and was instead because of fentanyl, the manner of his death is still listed as "undetermined," reported WTHI-TV 10.
WFIE provided more details, reporting that it's still unclear whether Trey's death was "intentional or accidental."
People reported that in addition to drug trafficking and other charges, Trey's stepfather also faces second-degree manslaughter charges.
Officer Brandon Holeman told WFIE that the investigation is ongoing. "We don’t know whether he ingested it intentionally, accidentally, how he came in contact with it so that is something we are still looking it," Holeman told WFIE.
According to Trey's obituary, "Trey loved all things sports and had special interests in baseball, basketball, skateboarding, and football."
He also loved listening to music, laughing, and playing pranks on his mom, the obituary stated.
The obituary also noted that Trey was "a fun-loving child."
"Trey dreamed of becoming a police officer in adulthood because he loved helping others," according to the obituary.
