On May 20, Alyssa Carolyn Jimmie, 22, placed her 7-month-old son and his 3-year-old brother in a bathtub with the water running at their Miami-Dade home. Believing the missing drain plug would allow water to flow freely and prevent the tub from filling, she left the children unattended and went to the garage, approximately 62 feet away, to do her nails. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes later, she returned to find the drain had been clogged with a small face towel and the tub had filled with water. The infant was unconscious in the water while his older brother played nearby. Despite CPR efforts, the infant was without a heartbeat for approximately 45 minutes to an hour. He was taken to a hospital where his heartbeat was restored, but he was presumed brain dead and was pronounced dead three days later on May 23. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning and the manner as accident. The mother was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
The news article explicitly states that "her 7-month-old son drowned in a bathtub" and that the medical examiner "determined the infant's cause of death as drowning and classified the manner of death as an accident."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article states that the mother "left the children unattended as she went to the garage to do her nails at an at-home manicure station." The garage was "about 62 feet away from the bathtub." The affidavit further states Jimmie "failed to provide 'the victim' with the proper care that a prudent person would consider essential to the well-being of a seven-month-old child" and that her "negligence resulted in the untimely death of 'the victim.'" This clearly describes inappropriate supervision of a 7-month-old left unattended in a bathtub.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article identifies the biological mother, Alyssa Carolyn Jimmie, as the person who left the children unattended in the bathtub. She was "arrested on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child under 18" for her negligence that led to the drowning.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
The news article states that "Jimmie said her 3-year-old son knew how to clog the drain with the towel to fill the tub on his own." Investigators found that when the drain was clogged with the towel, the tub filled to halfway at five minutes and completely at ten minutes, enabling the drowning. The 3-year-old brother's actions in clogging the drain were part of the causal chain leading to the infant's death, though the sibling was only 3 years old and acted without malicious intent.
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The news article states: "Alyssa Carolyn Jimmie, 22, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child under 18, Miami-Dade jail records showed."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article notes that "Jimmie is a member of the Miccosukee Tribe of Florida, which is a federally recognized tribe and sovereign government." This tribal membership and sovereign status could have significant implications for legal jurisdiction and proceedings in this case. Additionally, the article notes a tension between the medical examiner's ruling of the manner of death as an accident and the aggravated manslaughter charge against the mother. The defense attorney also "said what was in the arrest form was inaccurate," suggesting a dispute over the factual record.
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