Adam Canales, Jr., 33, was found guilty of manslaughter by a Lubbock jury in connection with the 2021 death of a 2-month-old baby girl.
EverythingLubbock.com previously reported Adam and Sarah Canales, 21, were arrested in 2022 for manslaughter. Court documents said on July 11, 2021, authorities responded to their home and found the baby deceased. At first, Adam said the baby was crying and he put her in bed. He denied giving the baby any medicine other than “gas drops.” After an autopsy showed the baby died of “mixed drug toxicity,” Adam later admitted to giving the baby Benadryl at least twice that day.
Court records said Adam acknowledged that infants are not supposed to take Benadryl. Sarah also told police she had seen Adam give the children medicine to get them to go to sleep “numerous times,” court records said. Sarah also admitted to giving the baby Benadryl, according to court documents. Court records documented that both parents gave the baby Benadryl, ZzzQuil and children’s multi-symptom cold medicine (dextromethorphan.)
During opening statements, the state said Adam was reckless in giving the baby those medications. Adam had initially denied giving the victim any of the medications when he first spoke to investigators, prosecutors said. District Attorney Sunshine Stanek said Adam and Sarah had a habit of medicating their children to get them to sleep. Stanek said, “They dosed her.”
Defense attorney Kristopher Mincey contended that it wasn’t manslaughter. Mincey said the couple was not communicating as to who was giving medicine. He said Adam did not have a conscious disregard of risk.
In closing statements, Stanek mentioned that Adam knew his actions were dangerous, as he admitted he knew babies were not supposed to take the medicine. He knew the dangers associated with the Benadryl, Stanek said. Stanek said Adam gave the baby the Benadryl because he needed “quality time” with his wife. Defense attorney Mark Snodgrass suggested criminally negligent homicide was a more accurate description of the case.
As of Thursday, Sarah’s case was still pending. Adam’s trial now moves to the punishment phase. He will be sentenced by the jury.
