*"Long Island Couple Faces Manslaughter and Drug Charges After Toddler's Fatal Overdose: District Attorney"** ¹

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Holbrook couple has been indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with the fatal overdose from a heroin and fentanyl-laced drug cocktail of their 14-month-old toddler, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Monday.

The details surrounding the tragic incident on January 3, 2024, where Suffolk police responded to an unresponsive child at the home of Wilkens Adonis and Darylee Leibrock, both 38, are deeply concerning. Finding the couple and their unresponsive toddler, Joseph Adonis, in the bedroom underscores the severity of the situation and the urgency of the response by law enforcement.

The toddler was taken by ambulance to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

The discovery of narcotics and drug paraphernalia in the bedroom where the child had been found, as well as the involvement of Suffolk's homicide squad and narcotics section in the investigation, indicates the complexity and seriousness of the case. It suggests that authorities are diligently pursuing all leads and working to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.

The revelation that DNA swabs were taken from several drug packages found within the room, with one containing Joseph Adonis' DNA, provides crucial forensic evidence in the investigation. It suggests a direct link between the drugs found in the environment and the child, further strengthening the case against the defendants.

The fact that Leibrock was subject to family court orders of protection prohibiting her from being around both children and possessing illegal drugs, as stated by prosecutors, adds another layer of concern to the situation. It indicates a potential breach of those orders and raises questions about the safety and welfare of the children in the household.

The arrest of Adonis and Leibrock on possession of drugs and weapons charges, which were the highest charges possible at the time and non-bail eligible under current New York State law, highlights the limitations faced by prosecutors in seeking bail in such cases. This underscores the ongoing debate and challenges surrounding bail reform laws, particularly in cases involving serious charges and potential risks to public safety.

The defendants were indicted and arraigned on the indictment, but no bail could be placed on the charges; they were held in custody due to outstanding warrants that each had at the time of their arrest, as well as a contempt charge lodged against Leibrock for violating the orders of protection, according to prosecutors.The DA's office has continued to investigate the death of Joseph Adonis, prosecutors said.After conducting an autopsy, the Medical Examiner’s office concluded his cause of death was acute mixed drug intoxication by a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, prosecutors said, adding that based on the results of the autopsy, the drugs and weapons found in the couple's apartment, and the location of the items, the couple are now alleged to have recklessly caused the death of their son, the DA said.

Once the results of the autopsy were received by the DA's office, the couple were indicted on the additional charge of second-degree manslaughter in a superseding indictment. Prosecutors stated that only with that additional manslaughter charge could the DA's office ask for bail in this case. This development indicates a significant shift in the legal proceedings and underscores the gravity of the allegations against the couple in relation to their son's tragic death.

Before Joseph Adonis's death on November 3, 2022, state police pulled over a vehicle driven by Leibrock with Wilkens Adonis as a passenger. Prosecutors noted that during the stop, police noticed what seemed to be cocaine inside the vehicle. Following this observation, law enforcement conducted a search, uncovering cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin. This previous incident provides additional context to the ongoing investigation and sheds light on the couple's history of involvement with illegal substances prior to the tragic incident.

Furthermore, prosecutors stated that investigators discovered an alprazolam pill, commonly known as Xanax, inside a purse belonging to Leibrock.

According to prosecutors, investigators found heroin and cocaine on Adonis, along with straws containing residue of both substances.

Prosecutors stated that the couple was arrested one day before Joseph Adonis was born.

According to prosecutors, the crimes from this incident were also non-bail eligible under current state law. Additionally, at the time of Joseph Adonis’ death, the couple each had warrants for failure to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on the November 2022 charges.

Adonis and Leibrock have been indicted on multiple charges, including one count of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, as stated by the DA.

In addition to the previous charges, Adonis and Leibrock have been indicted on multiple additional counts, including six counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of first-degree failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms. Adonis has also been indicted on one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as stated by the DA.

Tierney stated that Leibrock has been indicted on four counts of second-degree criminal contempt and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Tierney emphasized, "Fourteen-month-old Joseph Adonis tragically lost his life after ingesting a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. How many more innocent children must perish before we enact change? It's long overdue for New York State legislators to set aside politics and prioritize passing sensible legislation regarding fentanyl."

Adonis and Leibrack are each being held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, the DA said. Both defendants are due back in court on May 14.Patch has reached out to Adonis' attorney, Matthew Tuohy of Huntington, and Leibrock's attorney, Steve Fondulis of Port Jefferson, for comment.

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