Probe Launched After Baby Drowns At Valinda Home
VALINDA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Saturday responded to a home in the San Gabriel Valley to conduct an investigation after an 8-month-old baby drowned.
Sheriff's homicide detectives left the home in the 1500 block of Pass and Covina roads in the town of Valinda near West Covina about 4 a.m., several hours after receiving a drowning call.
That initial drowning call came in just before 9 a.m. Friday. The child was pronounced dead at Long Beach Memorial Hospital.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to them and their family. Hopefully if this was something that could have been prevented, other people learn from it," neighbor Don Navarrette said.
Officials said the 25-year-old mother was bathing the baby in a bathtub along with his 1-year-old sister and 2-year-old brother. She told authorities she left the children unattended for 10-15 minutes.
When she returned to the bathtub she said she found the youngest child face down in the water and not breathing.
Authorities took the woman's other two children into protective custody under the supervision of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
