The mother of an 11-month-old infant who died from opioid exposure in 2021 has been granted judicial release.

Michaela Hupp, of Portsmouth, was convicted of endangering children and drug possession charges in connection with the death of her 11-month-old daughter, Karrieonna Filius. Karrieonna died Sept. 17, 2021.

Hupp reportedly had put her down for a nap and took her other children in the home to a local park. The infant’s father, Robert Filius, found the child lifeless in her crib two hours later.

“Ms. Hupp was granted a judicial release as part of a plea negotiation,” said Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman. “She held herself accountable for her actions and through her cooperation the state was able to effectively prosecute the grandparents, who had directly exposed the child to the deadly substance in their possession.”

Autopsy and toxicology tests were performed in Montgomery County and found Karrieonna had fentanyl and flourofentanyl in her system when she died. Court testimony from the forensic pathologist was that the infant had fluorofentanyl concentrations at the highest levels they had seen throughout their career.

Also living at the Robinson Avenue residence were Hupp’s father, Justin Sheets, and his fiancee, Amye Knott.

Sheets and Knott went to trial in 2023. A jury convicted both of involuntary manslaughter, endagnering children, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. Sheets and Knott were sentended to the near maximum of 10 to 15 years in prison by Scioto County Common Pleas Judge Howard H. Harcha III. The maximum would have been 11 to 16.5 years.

Sheets is serving his time at Pickaway Correctional Institution. Knott is serving her time at Dayton Correctional Institution.

Hupp’s original charge of involuntary manslaughter was dropped in a plea agreement with the Scioto County Prosecutor. She has been housed at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Mansfield since January 8 of this year. If she had served her entire sentence of 4.75 years, her expected release date would have been Sept. 26, 2026, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Filius’ involuntary manslaughter charge was also dropped. He was also sentenced to 4.75 years in prison for endangering children and drug possession charges. He is currently housed at Noble Correctional Institution, where he has been since Dec. 22, 2023. His release date is Oct. 26, 2026.

Reach Lori McNelly at [email protected] or at (740) 353-3101 ext. 1928. © 2024 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved