Drowned Pompano Beach Toddler Identified
POMPANO BEACH (CBS4) - A Pompano Beach family is mourning the loss of their 2-year-old daughter, Sophia Pacani after she drowned Sunday.
Pacani's lifeless body was found floating in the family's backyard pool at about 11:30 a.m. by her mother, Ana Pacani, according to Broward County Sheriff's spokeswoman Veda Coleman-Wright.
Ana Pacani had been in the backyard with her daughter, but had turned her back for just a moment, Coleman-Wright said. The pool had no protective barriers.
Those living nearby the home located in the 16 hundred block of NE 25th Avenue said the Pacani family had always seemed to be a happy one.
"It's the most horrible thing I've heard yet," said neighbor Dorothy Olson. "Oh, they seemed like such a happy family."
Tom Sutor, another neighbor, is going to miss the little girl who he said used to cross the street to play with his cat.
"I can't believe it, she's the cutest, cutest little girl," he said, holding his hand out. "She's this tall, it's just terrible, it's a tragedy. I am really sorry to hear that."
The Pacani home was crowded Sunday afternoon with family members and friends gathering to console each other. No one was willing to grant an interview.
Pacani's Godfather, who did not want to be identified or interviewed on camera, said Sophia's mother had only taken her eyes off the child for a moment and described the child as an "angel."
"God took her, he must have needed her more" he said.
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