Muskingum County pair sentenced to prison after 9-month-old dies of drug overdose

The parents of a 9-month old baby who died of an overdose have been sentenced to prison in Muskingum County.

On Monday, Aug. 14, Autumn Ripple pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of involuntary manslaughter and one third-degree felony count of endangering children. She was sentenced to three years in prison.

The previous week, Marcus Kimbrough pleaded guilty to one first-degree felony count of involuntary manslaughter and one third-degree felony count of endangering children. He received a five-year prison sentence.

In early December of 2021, Ripple called 911 to report her baby was not breathing. First responders arrived and took the child to Genesis Hospital, where the baby was pronounced dead.

When detectives from the Zanesville Police Department entered the house to investigate, they discovered bodily fluids on the bed where the baby was found not breathing, in addition to drugs, syringes, metal spoons with burn marks, drug paraphernalia and a handgun magazine.

The cause of death was determined to be a fentanyl overdose.

Less than 15 minutes before Ripple reported that her baby was not breathing, a neighbor called 911 to report a domestic fight between Kimbrough and Ripple.

Police learned from family that both Ripple and Kimbrough are known to use heroin and fentanyl.

The drugs recovered in the bedroom tested positive for fentanyl.

Kimbrough previously was convicted of drug trafficking in 2008 and possession of a controlled substance in 2018.

“It’s tragic that this young infant had to suffer and die because of the parents’ selfish drug lifestyle,” Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor Gerald Anderson said.