A heartbreaking case from Nevada has shocked many people after a young mother admitted to poisoning her own toddler by mixing unprescribed medication into his food and drinks. The repeated incidents left the child fighting for his life in hospital multiple times and eventually led to a long prison sentence for the mother.
Mother Sentenced for Poisoning Her 1-Year-Old Son
Alesha Martin, 25, from Reno, Nevada, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving at least four years. According to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, she pleaded guilty to willfully poisoning or adulterating food, water, or medicine.
Court documents reveal that Martin repeatedly gave her baby son medication that was not prescribed to him. She admitted to crushing clonidine pills and mixing them into his milk in a sippy cup or blending them with yogurt so the child would consume it without knowing.
Clonidine is a drug normally used to treat high blood pressure and ADHD. It can be extremely dangerous for small children, especially when given without medical supervision.
Child’s Medical Emergencies Raised Alarm
The case came to light after the toddler suffered several unexplained medical emergencies. He was hospitalized multiple times in both Nevada and Utah, and doctors struggled to understand why his condition kept worsening.
Toxicology reports later confirmed that an unprescribed medication was present in his system. This discovery triggered a criminal investigation involving law enforcement and child protection services.
The situation became even more serious when the child had to be flown by medical helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City on May 14, 2025, due to the severity of his condition.
Grandfather’s Report Led to Investigation
A key turning point in the case came when the boy’s grandfather contacted police and said he believed the child had been poisoned by his mother on more than one occasion. His statement pushed investigators to look deeper into what was happening behind closed doors.
When Martin was arrested and interviewed in June 2025, she admitted to giving her son clonidine multiple times. She told police she had been “dosing” him every six to seven days and claimed she spaced it out because she believed she would “not hurt” him.
However, the harm was very real. Police records show she admitted to giving the drug at least four times, including twice while the child was already hospitalized in Utah.
Repeated Dosing Even After Hospital Discharge
Even after her son was discharged from hospital on May 27, 2025, Martin reportedly gave him another dose of clonidine the very next day. That dose again sent the child back to hospital, further proving the serious danger her actions were causing.
According to investigators, Martin eventually confessed that she knew her actions were responsible for her son’s repeated medical crises and that she had placed his life in danger.
Here is a simple overview of the key events:
| Date / Period | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Early 2025 | Child suffers repeated unexplained medical emergencies |
| May 14, 2025 | Child flown by helicopter to hospital in Utah |
| During hospital stay | Martin admits to giving clonidine twice |
| May 27, 2025 | Child discharged from hospital |
| May 28, 2025 | Another dose given, child hospitalized again |
| June 2025 | Martin arrested and interviewed |
| January 2026 | Sentenced to 10 years in prison |
Charges and Court Outcome
Martin was originally charged with:
- Four counts of willfully poisoning food, drink, water, or medicine
As part of a plea deal, she pleaded guilty to willfully poisoning. The court then sentenced her to 10 years in prison, acknowledging the seriousness of the crime and the long-term risk to the child.
Law enforcement officials praised the teamwork between detectives, medical staff, child welfare teams, and prosecutors. The Washoe County Sheriff stated that this coordinated effort was crucial in protecting the child and ensuring accountability.
