January 16, 2024, began like any other winter morning in Perryville, Maryland—quiet, cold, blanketed in snow. For Kate Jones, a hardworking truck driver and devoted mother of three, it was just another day on the job. Her children—Skylar, 14, Gaige, 10, and Allyson, 12—were enjoying a rare snow day off from school. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Kate left for work around 10 a.m., assuming her two oldest were still tucked in bed. Just hours later, her world would be shattered.
A Normal Night Turns Into a Horrific Morning
The night before, everything was routine. Kate had curled up with her son Gaige to color and watch a movie, while her daughters, Skylar and Allyson, hung out in their room, laughing and playing like any other night. As was often the case, Gaige eventually joined his sisters in their room for the night. He and Skylar were inseparable.
But when morning came, Allyson was the first to wake up—and something wasn’t right. She tried to wake her siblings, but they wouldn’t stir. Frightened, she sent a text to her mom.
Kate, gripped by panic, raced back home.
“I opened the door and looked in… and I just knew,” she later told People magazine, recalling the moment she stepped inside her home. The air was thick with dread. She immediately told Allyson to dial 911.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and did everything they could—but it was too late. Both Skylar and Gaige were gone.
A Shocking Discovery
The cause of death was something no parent ever expects to hear: a fentanyl overdose.
Kate was devastated and confused. How could her children—smart, loving, full-of-life kids—have come into contact with such a deadly substance?
“Skylar was my best friend. She made me a mom,” Kate shared tearfully. “And Gaige was my mama’s boy.”
Authorities found a small baggie near Skylar, sparking suspicion. Though the full picture remains murky, Kate and her mother, Kathy, believe Skylar may have unknowingly received something laced with fentanyl from another student.
As of now, the investigation is still active. No charges have been filed, but the questions persist.
A Family in Mourning
Kathy, the children’s grandmother, was there in those heartbreaking moments, desperately trying CPR with first responders. “When they told me what they found, I knew. It was an overdose,” she recalled.
An autopsy later confirmed their fears: both children had ingested fentanyl, leading to accidental overdoses. The grief is unimaginable.
Kathy later opened up in a Facebook group dedicated to families impacted by fentanyl, writing:
“This is my first time speaking out. I lost my granddaughter Skylar, 14, and grandson Gaige, 10, to fentanyl poisoning. Skylar was bright and funny and an honor student. Gaige loved turtles, dinosaurs, and riding his bike. I saw them nearly every day of their lives. Now I care for their sister Ally, who’s 13. My daughter is still deeply hurting. We’re all Ally has right now. My mission is to honor Skylar and Gaige however I can.”
Remembering Two Beautiful Souls
Skylar wasn’t just a student—she was a dreamer. With ambitions to become an interior designer and music producer, she loved makeup, taking photos, and being with her friends. She was also active in her church’s youth group and known for her strong work ethic.
Gaige, on the other hand, was every bit the energetic little brother. He adored dinosaurs, had a goofy sense of humor, and carried a heart full of compassion.
Now, Kate is focused on supporting Allyson, her only remaining child. Ally is in therapy, trying to navigate the impossible grief of losing her siblings.
More Heartbreak Followed
As if the loss of Skylar and Gaige weren’t enough, tragedy struck again in November 2024. James Dehaven, Gaige’s biological father, died by suicide. Kate says he had been in recovery from addiction at the time of the children’s deaths and had never exposed them to his past struggles. But the pain of losing his son was too much to bear.
A National Crisis, A Personal Tragedy
Kate’s story is just one of thousands. Fentanyl overdoses claim over 80,000 lives each year in the U.S., cutting short futures and shattering families.
Now, Kate and her mother are left clinging to memories—photos, stories, laughter once shared. The investigation continues, but closure feels far away.
What remains is a mother’s aching heart, a grandmother’s shattered world, and a sister trying to find her way through unbearable loss. Skylar and Gaige may be gone, but their light still shines in the hearts of those who loved them.