Drugs Were Found All Over The Home: Their 8-Month-Old Was Found Dead

Their 8-Month-Old Was Found Dead. Drugs Were Found All Over The Home.

On August 25, 2026, at around 8:30 a.m., officers responded to a home in the 600 block of Aztec Road NW in Albuquerque, New Mexico after the death of an infant was reported. Upon arrival, emergency personnel confirmed the baby was dead.

The victim was an 8-month-old boy whose name has not been publicly released.

Detectives with the Crimes Against Children Unit began investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

The child’s parents were identified as 35-year-old Mark Armijo and 41-year-old Shawna Sitz.

At the time, Armijo and Sitz were both on active probation or parole related to dangerous drug trafficking.

While investigating the infant’s death, detectives allegedly discovered drugs throughout the residence.

That discovery was reported as a violation of Armijo and Sitz’s probation or parole conditions.

On August 25, 2026, both parents were arrested and taken into custody for alleged supervision violations.

Neither Armijo nor Sitz has been charged with causing the baby’s death.

Authorities have also not publicly released a cause or manner of death, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The case later drew additional attention after state child welfare and health officials disclosed that concerns had been raised shortly after the baby was born.

On January 29, 2026, the state received a report that the infant may have been born substance exposed.

Officials said Sitz tested positive for two substances for which she had prescriptions.

Those substances did not qualify for a 72-hour hold under the state’s Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act directive, and child welfare officials said they did not have legal authority to take custody of the baby.

The report was screened out.

Over the following months, Sitz voluntarily participated in a Plan of Safe Care.

State navigators and outside contractors reportedly conducted routine visits with Sitz and the infant.

During those visits, officials said the home was clean, food was available, safe sleep practices were being followed and the baby was current on vaccinations and well-child visits.

Officials said no concerns were reported during the home visits.

After the infant’s death, however, state officials accused Sitz of taking extensive measures to conceal illegal and harmful drugs from officials who had regularly entered the home.

They also accused her of lying about substance use and failing to provide necessary care for her child.

In a joint statement, state officials said they believed Sitz ultimately bore responsibility for the infant’s death.

That statement was issued while the police investigation remained active.

As of August 27, 2026, authorities had not announced evidence establishing that drugs caused the infant’s death, and Sitz had not been criminally charged in connection with his death.

Armijo also had not been charged with causing the child’s death.

The investigation remains ongoing.