Murder charges are pending against the parents of a Kentucky five-month-old allegedly killed by secondhand smoke from a crack pipe, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported June 1.

Jaime Jockers, 23, and Michael McIntyre, 21, of Frankfort were charged with murder and wanton endangerment after toxicology reports revealed that Brooklyn P. McIntyre died of acute cocaine intoxication. The couple allegedly smoked crack in their apartment with the infant present. "There was a lot of crack cocaine smoked in that house," said Commonwealth's Attorney Larry Cleveland.

Holly Hopper, coordinator for the Drug Endangered Child Training Network at the University of Kentucky, said crack smoke can be deadly to children when it is inhaled or absorbed through the skin. "It really takes a small amount," she said.  "Crack cocaine is not something you want to play with."

A similar death was reported in Arizona in 2003. Cocaine intoxication can cause respiratory distress, seizures, and high blood pressure.