Baby Burns To Death After Mother Uses Hair Dryer To Allegedly Warm Him

     A Georgia mother faces second-degree murder charges after her six-week-old son died from severe burns caused by a hair dryer left running while she allegedly slept under the influence of drugs. While marijuana use was cited in the indictment, experts emphasize substance impairment alone does not explain the extreme negligence in this tragedy.

     Morgan Alyson Creel, 32, told Coweta County deputies she fell asleep on November 9, 2023, while using a hair dryer to warm her infant son, Carsynn, in Newnan, Georgia. Responding officers found the child unresponsive with burns covering the right side of his body. The outdoor temperature at the time was 68°F, raising questions about the necessity of using a hair dryer for warmth. Investigators discovered marijuana paraphernalia on the porch and alleged Creel was impaired by a controlled substance during the incident1. A grand jury indictment later accused her of causing “cruel and excessive physical and mental pain” by leaving the hair dryer blowing near the child while unconscious.

While Creel’s marijuana use was noted, experts caution against linking it directly to the fatal outcome:

• No established causal mechanism: Studies show cannabis can impair cognitive functions like reaction time and judgment, but there is no evidence it induces unconsciousness or eliminates awareness of extreme heat exposure.
• Negligence beyond impairment: The decision to use a hair dryer—a device not designed for heating—in mild weather reflects poor judgment unrelated to intoxication. Blankets or approved heating devices are widely recognized as safer alternatives.
• Parental cannabis studies: Research indicates cannabis use correlates with negative parenting practices, but such cases typically involve chronic misuse coupled with other risk factors (e.g., mental health issues).

     Creel’s subsequent October 2024 DUI arrest—where she blamed erratic driving on sneezing—highlights a pattern of reckless behavior. However, attributing the infant’s death solely to marijuana oversimplifies the case:

• Multi-factorial negligence: Falling asleep with a heat source near an infant violates basic safety protocols, regardless of substance use.
• Legal precedent: Courts rarely accept intoxication as a standalone defense for severe child endangerment.

1. Temperature context: The 68°F environment negates any plausible need for external heating devices.
2. Device misuse: Hair dryers pose burn risks even without impairment, with manufacturers warning against proximity to skin.
3. Substance limitations: While marijuana may impair decision-making, it does not absolve caregivers of responsibility for gross negligence.

     As Dr. Paul Rosenberg, a Johns Hopkins pediatric safety expert, notes: “Substance use might lower inhibitions, but fatal accidents of this magnitude require a chain of poor choices that transcend intoxication.” This case underscores the critical need for parental education on infant safety and substance use accountability. While marijuana’s role is noted, the tragedy ultimately stems from preventable negligence, not pharmacological effects alone