Holly Peace
An Egg Harbor Township woman accused of failing to get her toddler help after he allegedly ingested methamphetamine will stay in jail.
Holly Peace, 43, shares custody of the then-16-month-old boy with his father, according to information released during her detention hearing last week.
The father later learned that the boy had ingested methamphetamine but had not received medical treatment, the charges claim.
Peace is additionally charged with neglect of a child and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
DePasquale told the father that the boy "became extremely ill and lethargic appearing to overdose on suspected methamphetamine," according to what was said at Peace's hearing.
The boy's father called 911, and the child tested positive for drugs, Assistant Prosecutor Taylor Lord told the judge.
The child did recover.
The timeframe between the drug ingestion and the father learning of the issue was not clear.
An audio recording allegedly captured a conversation between Peace and DePasquale.
"They are unsure if the child would survive and this defendant (Peace) admitted being negligent in leaving around suspected CDS (controlled dangerous substance) that the child did wind up ingesting," Lord told the judge.
Peace also apparently expressed concern that she could get in trouble and lose her son.
Gabrielle DePasquale"The situation on paper is not exactly what happened," DePasquale said during her first appearance in court last month.
Her defense attorney then warned her not to speak of the case.
DePasquale was released following her detention hearing.
Peace's defense attorney, Robert Boney had not heard the recording, but questioned whether it would be admissible in court.
He also noted that Peace has no history of crime involving children, having raised her 12-year-old child with no issues.
"Where’s the lack of care been for some 12 years with the other child?" he asked.
Both of her children are currently with their fathers.
Peace, who has a history of drug issues, also was in an intensive outpatient program, or IOP, through John Brooks, that her attorney said she was "faithfully attending."
"So her incarceration is actually interrupting IOP," Boney said.
John Brooks does have a program at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Peace has a pending shoplifting charge out of Somers Point, along with two prior convictions for cyber-harassment from 2018, and terroristic threats from 2022, although the court system shows that as still pending.
The public safety assessment, used to help decide whether a defendant is held under bail reform, recommended Peace be released.
But Judge Christine Smith disagreed.
"Clearly she poses a danger to her child based on the allegations," she said. "Apparently, she was more concerned with her own legal problems than the health, safety and welfare of her child."
