9-month-old Florida baby drowns in bathtub after mom leaves tap running and goes to sleep with husband in next room
MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA: A nine-month-old baby has drowned in a bathtub which was filling with water while his parents were asleep in their Florida home on Friday, December 20, according to authorities.
The baby was found with his face down in the water and blue when deputies from the Martin County Sheriff's Office responded to the Hobe Sound residence at about 11.30 am.
The child's father, 30-year-old Shawn Davis, was performing CPR on little Cameron when deputies arrived at the home, according to the sheriff's office.
First responders could not save Cameron despite their best efforts, and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after.
His mother, 29-year-old Heather Clifford, told authorities that she had left the infant alone in the tub for about 20 minutes with two other siblings, aged two and three, before she fell asleep.
According to WPBF, Davis was also sleeping when the children were left alone in the bathroom. Authorities said Cameron's official cause of death would only be determined after an autopsy scheduled for Monday, December 23, and that his parents could face criminal charges as a result.
"It's very suspicious. It's very preventable and we'll be consulting with the State Attorney's Office on the possibility of [a] criminal charge going forward," Martin County Sheriff William D. Snyder told WPBF.
According to Snyder, police had responded to the home three times in the past. Furthermore, Florida's Department of Children and Family, or DCF, has also frequented the residence multiple times.
A nearby resident said they had seen the siblings outside, barely dressed, while the parents were apparently sleeping inside with the baby crying. This prompted them to call state child welfare officials. The siblings have now been handed over to the DCF.
Davis was previously arrested for failing to appear in court, violation of probation on a misdemeanor, battery, reckless driving, failure to register a motor vehicle and having no motorcycle endorsement on his driver's license, according to arrest records in Martin County.
Meanwhile, Clifford has previously been arrested for violation of probation on a misdemeanor charge, dealing in stolen property, giving false information to a pawnbroker and battery.