Illinois Parents Charged with Murder After Ordering Narcan via Uber Instead of Calling 911 During Toddler's Overdose

Edward Weiher, 49, and his fiancé, Alexa Balen, 28, were charged with first-degree murder in the death of their two-year-old daughter, Trinity

An Illinois couple has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of their 2-year-old daughter, Trinity, after they allegedly delayed calling 911 for nearly four hours during her fatal drug overdose, choosing instead to order Narcan via Uber.

Edward Weiher, 49, and his fiancée, Alexa Balen, 28, were arrested and formally charged on May 22 following an extensive investigation into the November 6, 2024, incident at their Homer Glen residence. Initially charged with child neglect, the couple now faces charges of first-degree murder after authorities determined their actions directly contributed to their daughter’s death.

According to court documents, the couple failed to properly administer a dose of Narcan—an opioid reversal medication—to their toddler as she showed signs of a suspected drug overdose. Rather than contacting emergency services, Balen searched online for phrases including “how to stop an OD” and “how to stop an OD without naloxone.” She and Weiher then used Uber to order more Narcan to their home, further delaying medical intervention.

Three hours and 41 minutes after Trinity began exhibiting overdose symptoms, Balen finally called 911. When emergency responders arrived, they found Weiher performing chest compressions on the child. The home was in deplorable condition, with garbage, food, urine, and feces scattered on the floor. Police also discovered a white powdery substance, believed to be heroin and cocaine, on various surfaces, along with burned tin foil commonly used for drug consumption.

Authorities reported that the entire family—including the couple’s six-year-old daughter—had been sleeping on a mattress in the living room. Suspected heroin was found on that same mattress. The older child later tested positive for both fentanyl and cocaine and was taken into state custody.

During questioning, Weiher told investigators that the family had been experiencing a gas leak and claimed his meter detected carbon monoxide levels of 6,000 parts per million—levels high enough to cause unconsciousness in minutes. Despite this claim, Balen admitted that both she and Weiher used heroin regularly. She also confessed that after failing to administer Narcan to Trinity properly, they opted to order a second dose through Uber, as Weiher had insisted they not involve emergency responders.

Trinity was eventually transported to the hospital but did not survive. A pathologist later concluded that she "would have survived" if 911 had been called immediately upon the onset of overdose symptoms.

In addition to the murder charges, Weiher and Balen face multiple felony charges, including child endangerment resulting in death, general child endangerment, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Their next court appearance is scheduled for June 27.