Lauren Henckel is facing serious accusations about her role as a mother and her alleged neglect that ultimately led to a heartbreaking tragedy. At just 15 years old, her son, Caden Reed Sanchez, died of a fentanyl overdose after what authorities describe as years of being left to fend for himself in a chaotic and unsafe environment.
Back when Caden was just a baby, concerns were already being raised. According to reports, when he was 10 months old, he was found in dirty diapers inside a messy home. As he grew up, things didn’t improve. Allegedly, Lauren left Caden alone for weeks at a time and allowed him to use drugs and drink alcohol. By the time he was a teenager, his life seemed to spiral out of control. In December 2023, Lauren found Caden unresponsive in their home in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was rushed to the hospital but sadly died three days later.
Now, Lauren, 44, is behind bars, charged with child neglect in connection to her son’s death. Stillwater Police Lieutenant TJ Low summed up the heartbreaking reality: “It seemed he never really had a chance in life.”
The criminal complaint against Lauren reveals a troubling history. There were 22 referrals to Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services (DHS) over concerns about her treatment of Caden. These reports mentioned drug use, filthy living conditions, domestic violence, and a lack of supervision in their home.
On December 2, 2023, police responded to a call about a drug overdose at a home on North Boomer Road in Stillwater. When officers and paramedics arrived, Lauren led them to Caden’s room, where he was found unresponsive. Inside the room, police found “cut straws” often used to inhale drugs and several empty alcohol bottles. The tragic autopsy revealed that Caden had died from fentanyl intoxication.
Investigators say Lauren has struggled with drug addiction for most of Caden’s life. When Caden was just 10 years old, he reportedly told DHS that his mom frequently left him alone to buy drugs and refused to go to the doctor because she feared testing positive for methamphetamine. A year later, someone reported that Caden didn’t have food or utilities at home for months, forcing him to stay with friends while his mom stayed with others.
The day after Caden’s overdose, Lauren went to the Stillwater police station to talk to detectives. She admitted she had left Caden alone on December 1 to use drugs with friends. She said she returned home after midnight but was locked out, and when she finally got inside, she found her son unresponsive in bed. Investigators noted that Lauren appeared to be under the influence of meth during the interview and showed little emotion while discussing her son’s death.
Lauren also admitted that she knew her son used marijuana, ecstasy, and had even experimented with meth. According to detectives, Lauren didn’t enforce any rules at home. Caden’s girlfriend told police that he rarely had food, didn’t go to school, and was allowed to drink alcohol daily. She even claimed that Lauren would buy alcohol and marijuana for him. A school resource officer described Caden’s attendance as so poor that he was considered a dropout.
Neighbors also painted a bleak picture. One neighbor said Caden often seemed hungry because there was no food at home, and Lauren was frequently high on meth.
In April, police issued a warrant for Lauren’s arrest. She was taken into custody late last month and is now being held in the Payne County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for next month.
The DHS called the situation a “profound tragedy” but said it could not comment further while working with law enforcement. Lieutenant Low expressed frustration over the loss of a young life, saying, “Everybody gets addicted to one thing or another. Unfortunately, it took the life of somebody it didn’t need to.”
Despite his troubled home life, Caden found joy in basketball, music, and spending time at the lake. According to his obituary, he was a loving soul who simply wanted to be loved and accepted, especially by his parents.
