CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) – A Carlsbad woman whose grandson died from a drug overdose has been sentenced to nearly two decades behind bars. Kelli Smith is the second person to get sent to prison, for the death of 12-year-old Brent Sullivan. Police arrested Kelli Smith back in 2021 after her grandson was found in the family shed […]
CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) – A Carlsbad woman whose grandson died from a drug overdose has been sentenced to nearly two decades behind bars. Kelli Smith is the second person to get sent to prison, for the death of 12-year-old Brent Sullivan.
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Police arrested Kelli Smith back in 2021 after her grandson was found in the family shed dead from a fentanyl overdose. KRQE News 13 spoke with the district attorney overseeing the case who says she’s happy with the outcome. “This is justice. Finally justice for Brent,” says Dianna Luce, 5th Judicial District Attorney.
That is what District Attorney Dianna Luce had to say when a judge sentenced Kelli Smith to eighteen years behind bars. In 2021, the 58-year-old woman from Carlsbad was arrested after her grandson, Brent Sullivan, was found dead in a garage from a fentanyl overdose. Smith’s daughter Alexis, the boy’s mother, was also arrested. Luce recalled how police found Sullivan’s body. “To find him (Bret) with the full, the little tube, the pill, all in that shed where he died they immediately knew what it was, they knew to get Narcan, but they delayed in calling 911,” said Luce.
Luce said that during Wednesday’s sentencing, text messages and jail calls were presented that showed Smith admitted that she had drugs in the home. In jail calls, Smith even mentioned moving a stash of drugs while she and her daughter moved Brent’s body before the police came. Luce said a detective who testified on Wednesday got choked up when talking about trying to give Brent CPR.
“I think the toll it took on law enforcement will carry forward a long time. The law enforcement officers that were the first on scene that performed CPR on Bret,” said Luce.
Luce said she hopes the sentencing will encourage people to get help if they’re struggling with substance abuse. “I hope what comes out of this case is there’s more treatment available for people with addiction. That we get law enforcement the funding and tools that they need to get some of these drugs off of the street, they can’t stop everything,” said Luce.
Kelli Smith did not speak during her sentencing but did submit a statement claiming she was innocent. They added that Smith will be appealing her conviction. Brent’s mother, Alexis Smith, was found guilty on two counts of child abuse. She was sentenced to fourteen years in prison and is also appealing her conviction.