Jury Finds Norsman Guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter of Toddler

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Scott Norsman guilty of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child for the fentanyl overdose death of his 23-month-old daughter. With the verdict, Norsman faces up to 30 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Jonathan Sacks will sentence Norsman at a later date.

On March 17, 2023, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to an unresponsive toddler at a home on Century Point Drive North. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue transported her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. An officer did a sweep of the home looking for other victims and saw copious amounts of drugs and drug paraphernalia scattered and within reach of a child. After a search warrant was obtained, officers searched the room where the toddler was found unresponsive and discovered drug paraphernalia and purple powder.  The house was in disarray with drug paraphernalia littered throughout the home. Three adults were in the home at the time: Norsman, his co-defendant Vanessa Buschow (the victim’s mother), and the homeowner. All three were detained and interviewed by police. Norsman told police he got home around 10 p.m. the night before and let Buschow sleep while he watched their child. Norsman and the toddler fell asleep on the couch. When Norsman woke up, the toddler was no longer on the couch with him. He went looking for her and told police he found the toddler unresponsive on the floor in another room with drug paraphernalia around her. He carried the toddler to Buschow who ran to their neighbor to call 911. The toddler’s autopsy revealed she had 55 ng/l of fentanyl in her system. The Medical Examiner noted that a mere 3 ng/ml could be fatal for a grown adult.

Buschow is being tried separately.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joe Licandro and Cate Waugh.