A woman named Refuge was arrested on February 26 at the same house where a young child had died nearly three months earlier. She was charged with multiple crimes, including using illegal drugs in front of a minor, carrying a weapon while having drugs, and possessing over 250 grams of fentanyl with the intent to sell. According to court records, nearly 750 grams of fentanyl were found at the scene, which is an extremely dangerous amount. The DEA states that just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be deadly. Previously, Refuge had been charged with negligent homicide, but with these new charges, she could face 25 years to life in prison if found guilty.
The child’s mother, Leshawn Ratliff, is devastated by the loss of her son, Rudy. She moved from Houston to New Orleans to make sure her son’s case received proper attention. She recalls that in November 2024, she was visiting Refuge’s home on Willow Street for Thanksgiving when she heard a loud “pop.” Turning around, she saw her 3-year-old son bleeding. Her boyfriend quickly took the child to the hospital, but unfortunately, it was too late to save him.
When police searched the house, Refuge was missing. Firefighters had to break down the door so officers could enter. Inside a closet, they found a backpack containing a loaded 9mm magazine, a scale, small plastic bags, and a sealed container filled with fentanyl. However, no gun was found.
Ratliff, who had trusted Refuge with her older son, was shocked by the discovery. She never suspected anything unusual about her longtime friend. Now, Refuge is being held on a $1.5 million bond. Legal experts say that because fentanyl is extremely dangerous, even small amounts carry severe legal consequences.
