Dad charged with manslaughter in death of son, 3

WASHINGTON — A Prince George’s County man faces manslaughter and first-degree child abuse charges in the January death of his 3-year-old son, Jason.

Toxicology results showed the child had a number of drugs in his system, and county police say they do not believe the drugs – which included cocaine, acetaminophen and codeine – were accidentally ingested.

Police say Thomas Everett Holland, 38, of Palmer Park, drove his son to United Medical Center in Southeast Jan. 26.

The boy, who was unresponsive, died at the hospital.

Police arrested Holland at his home Thursday night. Jason’s great grandmother, Shirley Gaither, told ABC 7 that she was suspicious of Holland all along.

“The moment we got the news we knew he had done something to the child,” she said. “He didn’t have any health problems – there was no reason that child couldn’t return on that Sunday morning just as healthy as he left.”

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