BANGOR, Maine (AP) Court documents say a Maine woman accused of endangering the welfare of her baby daughter allegedly rubbed heroin residue on the infant’s gums to help her sleep.

Police said 33-year-old Kimberly Nelligan, of Bangor, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the charge and misdemeanor drug possession following the death of her 1-year-old child in 2018.

The state medical examiner’s office determined that the cause of death was probable toxic effects of fentanyl, a powerful painkiller.

The Bangor Daily News reports the baby’s father told police a couple of months before their child died, he saw Nelligan rub heroin residue on her gums about 15 times. He said the baby was having trouble sleeping.

Nelligan is out of jail on personal recognizance bail. She’s scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 12.
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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangordailynews.com