DETROIT, MI — A Detroit mother has been sentenced following the devastating and preventable death of her 4-year-old son, Anthony Scott Upshaw Jr., a tragedy that has left both the community and child advocates reeling.
On April 2022, prosecutors say Chavon Caprice Boone knowingly administered fentanyl to her young son, which caused the child to go into cardiac arrest. Despite emergency efforts, Anthony could not be saved, and his life was tragically cut short before it had the chance to truly begin.
Anthony’s death shocked many in Detroit, sparking outrage over the dangers of fentanyl and the vulnerability of children in households where drug use is present. Prosecutors described the circumstances as “both heartbreaking and unconscionable,” emphasizing that Boone’s actions directly led to her son’s death.
Boone, now convicted, pleaded guilty to felony murder, child abuse, and delivery of a narcotic causing death. On August 26, 2025, she was sentenced to 22–40 years in prison, with credit for time already served.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors highlighted the irreversible damage caused by Boone’s actions—removing from the world a little boy who had a bright future ahead of him. “This was not only criminal, it was a betrayal of trust,” one official remarked, underscoring the tragedy of a mother becoming the very source of danger to her child.
Anthony, described by relatives as playful, curious, and full of life, is remembered as a little boy who deserved the chance to grow up safe and loved. Family members have shared that his laugh and energy would light up any room, making his loss even more painful to bear.
Child advocates and law enforcement officials hope this case serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by fentanyl, especially in homes where children are present. They also stress the importance of community vigilance in protecting vulnerable children who cannot protect themselves.
Boone’s sentencing closes a legal chapter, but for Anthony’s loved ones and the broader community, the heartbreak lingers. His memory now stands as a call for awareness, responsibility, and action to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.