On November 1, 2022, 1½-year-old Alayla Hardin drowned in a jacuzzi at her paternal great-grandparents' home in Manatee County, Florida. After eating breakfast, the child and her great-grandparents laid down in bed, and both grandparents fell asleep. The toddler accessed the patio through an unsecured sliding glass door that had no alarms or child locks, where her paternal uncle was also asleep in a rocking chair. The grandmother awoke and found the child unresponsive in the jacuzzi. Despite CPR attempts by the adults and paramedics, the child was pronounced deceased at 10:51 a.m. A mesh safety net around the inground pool and attached jacuzzi was not secured and was in poor condition. Additional safety hazards included prescription bottles, knives, and firearms within the toddler's reach.
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 fatality report explicitly states the child "drowned while she was visiting the home of her paternal great-grandparents." She was found "unresponsive in the jacuzzi."
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The fatality report describes that after eating breakfast, "they all laid down in the grandparents' bed and the grandparents fell asleep sometime later." During this time, the toddler was able to access the patio through an unsecured sliding glass door with no alarms or child locks, wander to the jacuzzi, and drown. The uncle was also asleep on the patio in a rocking chair. All three supervising adults were asleep while the 1½-year-old child was left unsupervised.
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)?
The fatality report states that the child experienced "withdrawal symptoms and necessitated additional treatment and an extended hospital stay after her birth," indicating prenatal substance exposure resulting in neonatal withdrawal.
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?
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)
The fatality report identifies the supervising adults at the time of the incident as the paternal great-grandparents Vickie Hardin (66) and Jimmy Hardin (72), and paternal uncle Eric Hardin (42). All three were present in the home and all were asleep when the child accessed the pool area and drowned.
Was a sibling involved in the death?
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)?
The fatality report references prior child protection involvement, stating "the investigation was closed with verified findings of the substance exposed newborn maltreatment." The family had engaged with "crisis intervention services, ... Healthy Families, and family support services" as part of that earlier involvement.
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?
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?
The fatality report states "the father was a regular marijuana smoker" and references the mother's substance use during pregnancy that caused the child's "withdrawal symptoms and necessitated additional treatment and an extended hospital stay after her birth." Both constitute substance use by parents/caregivers.
Notable Details
The fatality report identifies numerous safety hazards in the home beyond the immediate drowning circumstances. It states that "at the time of the incident, there were no alarms or child locks on the door," the "mesh safety net surrounded the pool, but it was not secured, and it was in poor condition, leaving the water accessible," and the patio area was "described as cluttered and unsanitary." Additionally, "multiple prescription bottles, knives, and firearms were found within the toddler's reach." These details point to systemic inadequate safety measures in a home where a young child was regularly visiting. The prior CPS involvement with verified findings of substance exposed newborn maltreatment, followed by multiple services, suggests an existing child welfare system footprint for this family.
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