Since the start of her son’s life, Lauren Henckel has faced accusations regarding her parenting abilities. At just 10 months old, he was allegedly discovered in soiled diapers within a chaotic home. As the boy matured, it was reported that she supposedly abandoned him for weeks, permitting him to use drugs and consume alcohol.
At 15, she discovered him unresponsive in their home, and he subsequently passed away due to a fentanyl overdose.
Henckel, 44, is currently incarcerated and facing charges related to child neglect linked to the death.
The criminal complaint states that there were 22 reports made to Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services regarding concerns about the treatment of her son, Caden Reed Sanchez.
The complaint stated, “Most of the allegations involve drug use in the home, unsanitary living conditions, inadequate supervision, domestic violence, and concerns for [Caden]’s welfare.”
On December 2, 2023, authorities in Stillwater were called to a residence in the 1800 block of North Boomer due to a reported drug overdose. Upon arrival, officers and paramedics were guided by Henckel to Caden’s bedroom, where he was discovered unresponsive in his bed.
Emergency personnel quickly transported him to the hospital, where he was declared dead three days afterward. Authorities discovered “cut straws” in Caden’s room, along with multiple empty alcohol bottles, according to the affidavit. Straws are often utilized for consuming fentanyl.
As stated in the affidavit, Henckel has struggled with drug addiction for the majority of Caden’s life. At the age of 10, Caden informed DHS investigators that his mother would leave for town to purchase drugs and avoided medical visits out of fear of testing positive for methamphetamine.
A year later, a caller allegedly reached out to DHS, expressing worries that Caden had been without food or utilities at his home for three months and was staying with friends. At the same time, Henckel was staying with friends, according to police reports.
The day following her son’s passing, Henckel arrived at the Stillwater police station to converse with detectives. She stated that she departed from Caden at their residence on December 1, 2023, to use drugs with friends. Henckel got back home just after midnight but found himself locked out, with Caden not responding to texts.
She allegedly informed the authorities that she accessed the premises via a window and discovered Caden unresponsive in his bedroom. The affidavit stated that she ran to a neighbor’s house seeking assistance. Detectives observed during the interview that it was clear she was affected by meth.
Henckel informed investigators that she is aware her son uses marijuana, ecstasy, and has tried meth, according to police reports.
Investigators received insights into Caden’s life from the School Resource Officer at his school, along with his girlfriend and a neighbor. The SRO stated that Caden’s school attendance was extremely poor, noting that he attended class so rarely that he was viewed as a dropout.
According to police reports, his girlfriend of four months stated that he frequently lacked food, had no supervision, was free to do as he pleased, and was not required to go to school. She mentioned that Caden “was permitted to consume alcohol nearly every day” and that Henckel frequently purchases him alcohol and marijuana, according to the affidavit.
The girlfriend reported to the police that Henckel provided her with multiple inconsistent accounts regarding Caden’s overdose and the circumstances of how she discovered him. The girlfriend claimed that Caden was reportedly spending time with individuals known for dealing drugs.
A neighbor reported to the police that she frequently observed Henkel under the influence of meth, and noted that Caden was often hungry due to a lack of food.
An autopsy revealed that fentanyl intoxication was the cause of Caden’s death. In April, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Henckel due to child neglect, and she was taken into custody late last month. Her upcoming court appearance is set for next month. She is currently held at the Payne County Jail with a bond set at $100,000.