New Jersey family of three, including 8-year-old girl, drowns in swimming pool, may have been 'electrocuted'

EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY: An eight-year-old girl and two of her family members have been found dead in a swimming pool. The victims’ names have not been released yet, but it was said the young girl died along with her 32-year-old mother and 62-year-old uncle.

An investigation into the case has been launched to determine the cause of the deaths following the discovery of the bodies at the property on Clearview Road in East Brunswick on Monday afternoon, June 22. According to reports, local authorities received a 911 call at around 4.18 pm from a neighbor after they heard screams. However, when officials arrived they found the three bodies drowned in about 4ft of water in an oval-shaped pool at the property. Authorities are now investigating a drowning, The Sun reported.

At a press conference outside the property, Lieutenant Frank Sutter said: “A neighbor heard screaming and dialed 911. It came in as a fall victim but turned out to be a drowning. All the deceased were taken out of the pool, and CPR was done. They were all pronounced in the backyard.”

Sutter has also said as reported by the New York Post that a relative was inside the home at the time and is being questioned. However, at this time, it was impossible to say what role anyone played in the tragedy.

"Police are actively investigating a scene where three people were found deceased in a pool. This is a devastating day for our entire community. It is too early to determine exactly what happened,” East Brunswick Police Chief Frank Losacco said in an email statement, adding: “We are working with the Middlesex County Prosecutors office and will release information as it develops.” Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office will reportedly find the cause of death in the next few months.

Meanwhile, a neighbor of the family said the three may have died due to electrocution. CBS New York reported that the presence of an electrician's truck at the house raised more questions. "The fact that they had an electrician's truck show up shortly thereafter. It wouldn't make sense that three people just drowned right away like that. With an adult there, too," neighbor Phil Peterson said. The family had reportedly moved into their new home in the area roughly a month ago.

While another neighbor identified as Vishal Makin of the family as reported by News12 New Jersey said, “We are from the same part of India, we spoke the same language also,” as he added that the last time he spoke with the family, they had just gotten their pool serviced and were excited to use it. “We were so excited for them, it's the right weather you should get it done and it's such a bad sad day. The girl was going into third grade and we knew about 10 kids who are going into third grade so we told them to look at this family,” Makin added.

In a similar incident, two brothers, aged six and five, from Florida were found dead at the bottom of their apartment complex swimming pool in May 2019. The pair reportedly sneaked out of their house to have a late-night swim while their mother, Wildine Joseph, was asleep. Young brothers - Ja'Kye Joseph (6) and Branario Minto (5) drowned on late Wednesday night, May 22, at the Silver Palms Apartment Complex located in North Lauderdale, 200 SW 52nd Ave.