An incredibly sad situation occurred last month in Georgia when a 10-month-old baby drowned in a bathtub. The 19-year-old mother was bathing with her infant son when she reportedly fell asleep. Now she’s being charged with her own baby’s murder.
Police believe that the mother, Anslie Nicole Brantley, was on drugs at the time of her child’s death. Not only is she being charged with second-degree murder, she will face cruelty charges, as well.
The horrific incident took place at Brantley’s mother’s home on July 9. Brantley reportedly awoke in the tub to find the baby unresponsive, according to her mother, who heard screams coming from the bathroom and ran in to see what was going on.
Brantley’s mother, Kelli Gordon, said that her daughter and grandson had been in the tub for a long time, so she tried to check on them. But that was where her efforts stopped. She told investigators that she couldn’t make out her daughter’s mumbled replies, so she “went back to watching TV.”
She said that a while later, she heard screams coming from the bathroom. Her daughter was holding the baby, saying he couldn’t breathe. She asked her mother what she should do. Gordon says she started trying to resuscitate the child, but he was cold and blue.
Gordon has also been arrested on narcotics possession charges. Authorities found methamphetamine in the home, which she owns. Five of Gordon’s other children were placed in the custody of child welfare officials following her arrest.
The police report stated that police believed Brantley had taken drugs. When they searched the home, they found methamphetamine. The deputy tried to talk with her, but she reportedly was “sitting in a chair with only a towel wrapped around her crying” and “not in a state where she was willing to speak.”
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The incident is incredibly sad on so many levels. It points to, of course, the dangers of drug addiction, but also bathtub safety. Nearly 90 children die in bathtubs in their own homes each year. Those tragedies are almost always preventable.
The 19-year-old woman allegedly took drugs before passing out in the bathtub. Now her baby is dead. https://t.co/VLtuzSP0tz
— Nancy Grace (@NancyGrace) August 3, 2021
Brantley remains in custody and has been denied bond. Authorities are still awaiting toxicology results for Brantley and her son. Gordon reportedly remains in custody, as well, on charges unrelated to the death of her grandchild.