South Shore Parents Face Manslaughter Charge In Baby's Death

Update at 3:15 p.m.: The Quincy couple pleaded not guilty at their arraignment and they were ordered held on $200,000 bail.

Original post:

BOSTON — The parents of a 5-month-old girl who died in 2011 are facing manslaughter charges for allegedly putting opiates in the infant's formula.

Ryan Barry and Ashley Cyr, of Quincy, are expected to be arraigned Friday on manslaughter charges related to the death of their daughter, Mya Barry, who authorities say died of opiate poisoning.

According to Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz's office, police were called to the couple's former home in Marshfield on Sept. 23, 2011, because the baby was unresponsive. When they arrived, a neighbor was performing CPR on the infant.

"The victim was observed to be cold to the touch, not breathing, with her pupils fixed and dilated," prosecutors said in a statement.

The infant was taken to South Shore Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police say a bottle recovered at the home that was used to feed the infant tested positive for opiates. Heroin and hypodermic needles were also found in the couple's bedroom that they shared with the infant and her two sisters, ages 3 and 4.

A grand jury returned the manslaughter indictments Thursday and Barry and Cyr were arrested at their current residence in Quincy on Friday.

In addition to manslaughter, Cyr is also facing one count of reckless endangerment of a child.