Tennessee 1-year-old drowns in bathtub after mother steps out to have a cigarette and some ‘me time’
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE: A mother is facing charges following the death of her 11-month-old baby, who died after she left him in the bathtub and allegedly stepped away to have a cigarette and listen to music on her phone, claim authorities.
Lindsee Leonardo, a 32-year-old mother of two from Knoxville, has been charged with aggravated child abuse, neglect, and endangerment, state online jail records. With the death of her child, she might face additional charges, claim authorities.
The incident was reported on Wednesday, January 8, when, at about 8 pm, Leonardo called 911 after she found her almost year old son Aiden Leonardo floating face up in a bathtub, reveals the Knox County Sheriff’s Office arrest warrant, WBIR reported.
Local station WATE said that she told investigators how she had left Aiden and her other child—a 23-month-old—in the bathtub alone with four to six inches of water as she stepped out "to smoke a cigarette and have some ‘me time.’”
Leonardo said she was "outside for about 10 minutes and listened to two songs on her phone,” the warrant states. When she returned, she found the bathtub filled to the top because the 23-month-old had turned on the faucet in the 10 minutes that she was gone, and she found baby Aiden floating on his back, while the other child stood in the tub. Leonardo grabbed her unresponsive baby out of the tub and placed him on her bed as she called 911 and listened to dispatchers telling her how to perform CPR until paramedics arrived.
Emergency responders rushed the baby to Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center where he regained a heartbeat, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. He was also transferred to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital on Friday, and was listed in critical condition as of Thursday night, WBIR reports. On Friday, the officials at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital made the announcement that the baby had died, adds the outlet. “Our hearts are saddened at the loss,” Knoxville County Spokesperson Kimberly Glenn said, WBIR reports. “We expect additional charges to be forthcoming. As for now, the investigation is continuing.”
Leonardo is currently being held in the Knox County Detention Facility under a $100,000 bond. It's not certain is she has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf.