Friday, March 16, 2007

Sad, just sad...

Mother Charged with Manslaughter After Baby Drowns:
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A woman in Benton County with an alleged history of drinking and passing out has been charged with manslaughter for the drowning death of her seven-month-old baby, who died in a bathtub.

Thirty-year-old Melanie Cummings of Bentonville, was arrested yesterday for the death of her baby, Brooklynn.

Police said Cummings and the baby bathed together Tuesday night and that the baby was found face-down in the water Tuesday night by her father, 35-year-old Joseph Cummings.

Three years ago, Joseph Cummings had gotten a protection order against the mother, alleging she had passed out from drinking alcohol and left their first child, then age three months, unattended.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Human Services said a dependency and neglect case was opened against the mother, but was closed after she "achieved the goals in her case."

Melanie Cummings was arrested for manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

3 comments, add yours here:

Claire said...

This is a very very sad story.

Knock knock - it's cancer! said...

Oh My God my heart just dropped while reading this.

Barb said...

Only TEN years??????