Texas Father Convicted Of Manslaughter After Giving Baby Benadryl So He Could Spend Time With Wife

A Texas man who admitted to giving his infant Benadryl so that he and his wife could have 'alone time' has now been convicted of manslaughter. The case has sparked outrage over the dangerous misuse of medication on children.

Adam Canales Jr., who lives near Lubbock, was found guilty following the tragic death of his two-month-old daughter, Athena Brigida-Kay Canales, in July 2021. The baby’s death was linked directly to the over-the-counter drug given to her by her parents.

According to prosecutors, Canales intentionally gave the infant a dose of the medication so that she would fall asleep and he could spend what he described as 'quality time' with his wife, Sarah Canales. Sarah is also facing manslaughter charges connected to the same incident and is being tried separately.

District Attorney Sunshine Stanek told the court that Canales had a troubling pattern of giving his children sleep-inducing allergy medicine whenever he and his wife were tired and wanted private time together.

She condemned his actions as both selfish and extremely dangerous, calling them reckless behavior that ultimately cost Athena her life. Speaking to the Lubbock-Avalanche Journal, Stanek emphasized just how preventable the tragedy was.

"This defendant was so selfish and reckless in his actions that he caused the death of Athena," she stated, before adding: "They made a habit of giving their kids, including Athena, medicine to make them sleep. When they were tired and just wanted adult time to themselves — they dosed her."

Adam Canales Jr. and Sarah Canales Lubbock County Sheriff's Office

Defense attorney Kristopher Mincey argued in court that the child’s death was not intentional but rather a devastating accident. He explained that the Canales household was hectic, as the couple was raising six children at the time, which he claimed added to the confusion and poor decisions made that day.

Mincey told the jury that both Adam and Sarah had given Athena doses of Benadryl separately without telling each other, and this miscommunication led to the deadly overdose. He said the couple never intended to harm their daughter but acknowledged the outcome was fatal.

On Thursday, August 28, a Lubbock County jury convicted Canales Jr. of manslaughter. He is now awaiting sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison, according to KCBD 11. His wife, Sarah Canales, is currently facing trial on the same charge in a separate proceeding.

The case began on July 11, 2024, when Lubbock County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an emergency call about an unresponsive baby inside the family’s home at around 4 p.m. local time. When officers arrived, they found Athena had already passed away.

Authorities later confirmed the arrest and charged Canales Jr. after piecing together the events leading up to her tragic death.

Adam Canales Jr. has been convicted and could face up to 20 years behind bars KCBD NewsChannel 11

Investigators also discovered several medications inside the house. These included cough syrups with dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine-based drugs such as NyQuil and ZzzQuil, according to reports from La Voce di New York.

At first, Canales Jr. denied giving Athena the medicine. However, after questioning, he eventually admitted his role in the incident.

An autopsy later revealed that the cause of death was 'mixed drug toxicity.' The toxicology report showed diphenhydramine levels in her system that were far beyond what an infant could survive.

Diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, is an antihistamine often used for allergy relief but also known for its sedative effects. While it may be relatively safe in small, controlled doses for adults, it can be extremely harmful — and even deadly — for infants.

Both the FDA and CDC strongly warn against giving diphenhydramine to children under the age of two without direct medical guidance. Even a small overdose can cause heart problems, seizures, coma, and in some cases, death.