Police officials said the young mother, later identified as 23-year-old OIivia, was taken into custody and later charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse after she reportedly left her baby in a bathtub with running water in the next room while she talked on the phone for 22 minutes. The young mom pleaded not guilty to all charges, court records say.
The 8-month-old baby, Asher, was alone with his mom when he drowned in Nov. 2023. During an interview with investigators, the 23-year-old mom reportedly said that she left the baby alone in the bathtub for just 5 minutes, while she changed the laundry. But, investigators say that the mother’s phone activity says otherwise. During the investigation process, authorities discovered that the mother was on the phone for 22 minutes, before calling Asher’s grandmother and then calling 911.
The 23-year-old woman also sent a message to her father that her baby was taking a nap just several minutes before calling 911. During an interview with investigators, the mother reportedly said that she left her baby in a bathtub that was filled ‘just few inches with the water flowing’. The woman also said that she then went one room over to change the laundry.
After 5 minutes, she returned only to find her baby floating face-up in the water with his mouth and nose beneath the surface. The mother also told investigators that she attempted to resuscitate her baby until authorities arrived. But, authorities say that the mother started talking on her phone in various capacities at 3:17 p.m. and that she used the phone continuously. The baby’s dad, 27-year-old Keenan, also faces charges related to the baby’s death, police officials said. He reportedly have false statement, while under oath.