Deputies said fentanyl and drug paraphernalia were found throughout the Fort Myers room after the boy was revived with naloxone.
FORT MYERS, FL — Two adults were arrested after a 10-year-old boy was found unconscious with a faint pulse inside a Fort Myers hotel room where deputies said they later discovered fentanyl and drug paraphernalia within reach of children.
Robert Dillard, 34, and Tasianna Squires, 27, face charges of child neglect and trafficking in fentanyl, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and court records cited in local reports. Deputies responded Aug. 12 to the Quality Suites in Fort Myers for what was initially reported as a medical emergency. Authorities said the boy was not awake or breathing normally when first responders arrived.
Paramedics suspected an opioid overdose and administered naloxone, commonly sold under the brand name Narcan, according to an arrest affidavit cited by Law&Crime. An initial nasal dose did not revive the child, and paramedics then administered the medication through an IV. The boy responded to the treatment and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Authorities later said testing detected fentanyl in his system.
The arrest affidavit identified the child as Dillard’s son. It said Dillard called 911 after finding the boy unresponsive. Squires told investigators that she and Dillard had been outside the hotel room when the child called out to them and then began having difficulty breathing, according to the affidavit. Dillard began CPR before emergency crews arrived, investigators said.
Detectives detained Dillard and Squires while they investigated and obtained a search warrant for the hotel room. Deputies said they found drug paraphernalia and clear bags containing fentanyl in several locations, including inside Squires’ purse. Investigators also reported finding about 10 grams of fentanyl behind a refrigerator, along with additional drugs in bags elsewhere in the room.
The Sheriff’s Office described the amount found behind the refrigerator as a trafficking quantity and said narcotics and related items inside the room were accessible to children. The charges are allegations, and neither Dillard nor Squires has been found guilty. Authorities have not said exactly how the boy came into contact with the fentanyl.
According to the affidavit, Squires told investigators she had used drugs but denied intentionally keeping narcotics where children could reach them. She said she did not know how the boy ingested fentanyl and alleged that drugs found in the room belonged to Dillard. Dillard declined to answer investigators’ questions without an attorney present, the affidavit said.
Investigators also contacted the boy’s mother, who told deputies she believed Dillard and Squires had been using drugs, according to the affidavit. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified during the investigation. Authorities have not publicly disclosed additional details about the child’s placement or whether other children were staying in the hotel room.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno criticized the alleged conditions inside the room, saying that leaving drugs within a child’s reach represented “a whole new level of negligence.” The sheriff said his agency would continue pursuing fentanyl cases in Lee County. His comments came as investigators announced the arrests and released details about the evidence deputies said they recovered.
Dillard and Squires were taken to the Lee County Jail and were reported held without bond. Law&Crime, citing court records, reported that their next court date is scheduled for Sept. 14. Officials had not released a new public update on the boy’s medical condition as of Tuesday.
Author note: Last updated August 18, 2026.