Texas Man Convicted of Manslaughter After His Baby Died of Benadryl Overdose

A Texas man has been convicted of manslaughter following the death of his baby daughter after prosecutors argued he gave the infant Benadryl to get “quality time” with his wife. 

Adam Canales Jr. was convicted in Lubbock County on Thursday, Aug. 28, in connection with the July 2021 death of his 2-month-old daughter, Athena Brigida-Kay Canales, according to local news outlets KCBD 11 and KLBK News.

Adam is awaiting sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison, per KCBD 11. The child’s mother, Sarah Canales, also faces manslaughter charges in relation to Athena’s death and is currently awaiting trial.

District Attorney Sunshine Stanek argued in closing statements that Adam administered the over-the-counter, sleep-inducing allergy medicine to his baby to get “quality time” with his wife, per KLBK.

Earlier in the trial, Stanek called Adam’s actions “selfish and reckless,” according to the Lubbock-Avalanche Journal.

“This defendant was so selfish and reckless in his actions that he caused the death of Athena,” she said, adding, “They made a habit of giving their kids, including Athena, medicine to make them sleep. When they were tired and just wanted adult time to themselves — they dosed her.”

Adam’s attorney, Kristopher Mincey, argued that the death was accidental, claiming that there was a lot going on that day in the six-child household, and that Adam and his wife had failed to communicate that they had each administered Benadryl to Athena on separate occasions, KCBD and KLBK reported.

D.A. Sunshine Stanek, defense attorney Kristopher Mincey, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office did not immedairly respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Aug. 31.

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Lubbock County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive child in the family’s home on July 11, 2021, around 4 p.m. local time, according to an arrest warrant obtained by KLBK at the time. Athena was found dead upon their arrival, per the outlet.

Adam initially denied giving the child the drug, but he later admitted to administering it after an autopsy report revealed that Athena died of “mixed drug toxicity,” according to the warrant obtained by KLBK.