The 10-year-old was remembered as a fifth grader who loved animals, cooking and time with his father.
HALFMOON, N.Y. — A 10-year-old Halfmoon boy remembered as sweet, mischievous and devoted to animals died after authorities say his mother gave him a fatal dose of an over-the-counter antihistamine.
The death has become a criminal case against Rebecca A. Jordan, 43, of Halfmoon, who was arrested April 15 and charged with second-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child. Sheriff’s officials said Jordan gave her son an excessive amount of diphenhydramine, a drug commonly found in Benadryl, and later tried to hide the bottle. The case now sits in Saratoga County courts after a monthslong investigation that began with a January emergency call.
The boy’s obituary, cited in local reporting, offered a picture of a child beyond the court file. It said he was born in Albany, raised in Halfmoon and was in fifth grade. He enjoyed barbecuing, cooking and building with his father. He loved all of his animals. The obituary described him as “a very sweet young man who could be a bit mischievous,” and said that trait reflected his personality. It asked for donations to an animal charity in his memory or to a GoFundMe page that was later taken down.
Family members also thanked the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and the Clifton Park and Halfmoon Emergency Corps for their work and support. Those words came before the public filing of charges that would accuse the boy’s mother in his death. Sheriff Jeffrey Brown later said his office treats child death cases as among the most painful it handles. “We will always be a deafening voice for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Brown said. He said he looked forward to justice for the child.
Deputies first went to 430 Route 146 in Halfmoon at 9:40 a.m. Jan. 19 after receiving an unattended-death call involving the boy. Local reports identified the location as the D and R Village Community Mobile Home Park. Brown said Jordan called family members when the child did not wake up the next morning, before someone eventually called 911. Authorities have not said who placed the emergency call, how long the boy had been unresponsive or what first responders found when they entered the home.
The investigation then shifted from the scene to medical evidence. Officials said toxicology results showed an excessive amount of diphenhydramine in the child’s system. Investigators said the drug led to intoxication, aspiration of gastric contents and probable restriction of normal ventilation. Brown said the amount was enough to kill an adult. The sheriff said investigators determined the death was not accidental and that it has been ruled a homicide. The boy’s cause and manner of death became key facts behind the April arrest.
Prosecutors said there was no sign that the boy had asked for medicine to help him sleep. Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby said investigators believe Jordan gave the drug while trying to address perceived behavioral issues. “It was an effort to parent and deal with in a neglectful way,” Eby said. He said the dosage was far beyond what a reasonable juror would expect to be appropriate. The statement previewed how prosecutors may frame the case if it reaches a plea hearing or trial.
Jordan was charged with manslaughter in the second degree, a class C felony, along with tampering with physical evidence, a class E felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. The sheriff’s office said the tampering count stems from an allegation that Jordan concealed a bottle of diphenhydramine from investigators to prevent its use in an official proceeding. Officials have not said whether investigators recovered the bottle from the home, another location or through a later search. They also have not released any statement from Jordan.
Jordan was arraigned before Town Justice Ellwood A. Sloat Jr. in Malta Town Court and was remanded to the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings in Halfmoon Town Court. Eby said the manslaughter charge carries a possible prison sentence of five to 15 years. He said the tampering charge could add more punishment if a court or jury finds the allegation proved. No conviction has been entered, and Jordan is presumed innocent unless proved guilty.
The child’s death has also prompted public discussion because diphenhydramine is common and easy to buy. WNYT reported that the first warning on a Benadryl package it found at a convenience store said not to give the medicine to children to make them sleepy. Longtime pharmacist John McDonald told the station that he had never heard of anyone dying from diphenhydramine. He said professionals have moved away from recommending it for some patients because it causes drowsiness and other medicines are often used for allergies.
What remains unknown is how many pills or how much liquid investigators say the child received, when the dose was given and what Jordan told investigators. Officials have not released the full toxicology report, the autopsy report or the complete police timeline. They also have not said whether any prior calls had been made to the home. Those gaps leave the court process to answer questions that sheriff’s officials and prosecutors have so far summarized only in broad terms.
Jordan remained held at the Saratoga County Jail after arraignment, with the case moving through Halfmoon Town Court. The next steps are expected to determine whether prosecutors seek additional court action and what evidence becomes public.
Author note: Last updated May 8, 2026.