A Lancaster County judge convicted a city woman of smothering her three-month-old son to death after she fell asleep while abusing cocaine following a single-day bench trial.

Judge Dennis Reinaker found Luz Linette Saez, 34, guilty on July 27 of a single count each of endangering the welfare of children and involuntary manslaughter.

Saez accidentally smothered the victim to death as she sleptat her residence in the 500 block of South Lime Street in August 2024. 

In an interview with police later the same day, Saez said she had used cocaine to stay awake for two days straight before accidentally falling asleep with the victim in her arms. When she awoke, the victim was dead, Saez said. 

Detectives had to verbally arouse Saez multiple times during the interview as she repeatedly appeared to be falling asleep. 

Lancaster County Children and Youth Agency had reported that the victim had tested positive for cocaine at birth mere months earlier. Saez herself had tested positive for cocaine during a voluntary urine screen several days after the incident. 

Reinaker is scheduled to sentence Saez at a later date.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp prosecuted the case.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Isaac Witmer filed the charges.