"I'll do everything I can for what's right" Neighbor records overdose death confession

NOW: “I’ll do everything I can for what’s right“ Neighbor records overdose death confession
NEXT:

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A West Allis Father is charged in his daughter's death. Police say the 18-month-old fatally overdosed on oxycodone.

Criminal documents show Gibson's confession to an upstairs neighbor helped bring forward the evidence needed for charges.

"There's still the loss of a child and it'll never be the same. But [I feel] relief. I'm glad somebody got arrested for it and charged and get the time they deserve. It could have been avoided, that's the main problem, the main thing, it could have just been avoided completely," said Matthew Sleider.

Sleider called 911 when he overheard his neighbors yelling about missing Percocet pills and that their 18-month-old daughter was cold to the touch.

"I called 911, ran downstairs, banged on the door, went in there to try and help, pretty much saw what was going on, and there was nothing I could do," said Sleider.

18-month-old Isabella Gibson's parents told police she went to bed at 9 p.m. and slept until 1 p.m. the next day. That's when they found the baby with vomit on her face, cold to the touch.

"I have an 18-month-old and a 3-and-a-half-year-old. I'll do everything I can for justice and what's right," said Sleider.

Sleider suspected there was drug abuse in his neighbors' home, and after overhearing Isabella's parents argue, he believed she died after getting into pills belonging to Gibson.

"If you have kids they come first before your needs," said Sleider.

He says he felt it was his duty to help police.

When the baby's parents talked with him about their daughter's death, he started to record the conversation, which he turned over to police.

Sleider recorded the baby's mom saying Gibson, "found a piece of cellophane in her mouth that she was choking on, trying to puke and swallowed three pills."

Gibson is recorded saing, “I know she is still going to have (percs) in her system and someone is getting charged for it" and “we better make sure we get our stories straight."

Police believe Gibson abused Suboxone, Xanax, and Percocet. Toxicology reports found oxycodone in Isabella's system, and it caused her death.

Sleider says he didn't think twice about pressing record.

You're only going to get so much out of someone, and they felt at ease to talking to me about it, and I just thought I should just record it and be in touch with the police and I know it'll help them out."

Gibson faces 60 years in prison, he is in custody awaiting his first court appearance.

Share this article: