Mariela Torres-Velazquez
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CANDID ID: FL_22_1733
AGE
1   year
STATE
Florida
DATE OF DEATH
7/20/2022
MEDIA
Not Available
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On June 8, 2022, 1-year-old Mariela Torres-Velazquez was placed in a bathtub with running water and no drain plug by her father, Isaac Torres-Saez, who had been up playing video games until 4:00 a.m. the previous night. The father left the bathroom and scrolled TikTok on his phone for an indeterminate period of time. When he returned, the child was face down in a nearly full bathtub, limp and unresponsive. The child suffered critical brain damage from prolonged submersion; hospital staff noted she coded for 34 minutes and had elevated enzymes indicating extended time underwater. After weeks of hospitalization showing no neurological function, care was withdrawn and the child was transferred to hospice, where she was pronounced deceased on July 20, 2022. The father was arrested and charged with Neglect of a Child with Great Bodily Harm and was sentenced to 5 years' probation.
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 states: "the 1-year-old child passed away on July 20, 2022, after suffering a drowning incident on June 8, 2022." The cause of death is listed as "Sequelae of Freshwater Near Drowning." The father found the child "face down in the bathtub" with the tub filled to "about two finger lengths below the top of the tub."

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 the father leaving the 1-year-old child unattended in a filling bathtub while he returned to the bedroom and scrolled TikTok on his phone for an unknown length of time. The father told law enforcement: "I was on my phone for God knows how fucking long." He also stated "it was normal for him to walk away from the bathtub." The investigation closed with "Verified Findings of Death and Inadequate Supervision as to Mariela Torres-Velazquez, with Isaac Torres-Saez as the caregiver responsible."

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?

The fatality report's Family Composition Chart lists Isaac Torres-Saez as the "Father" of Mariela Torres-Velazquez. He was the sole caregiver at the time of the drowning incident. The investigation concluded with "Verified Findings of Death and Inadequate Supervision as to Mariela Torres-Velazquez, with Isaac Torres-Saez as the caregiver responsible."

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)

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)?

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 fatality report states: "On June 30, 2022, the father was arrested and charged with Neglect of a Child with Great Bodily Harm." He was subsequently "sentenced to 5 years' Probation with a start date of October 17, 2022."

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 fatality report contains several notable details. First, the father's sentencing was limited to 5 years' probation for a case that resulted in the death of a child, with a court stipulation of "No objection to withhold of adjudication," meaning the father may have avoided a formal conviction despite the child dying. Second, the father admitted to law enforcement that leaving the child unattended in the bathtub was a routine practice: "The father indicated to law enforcement that it was normal for him to walk away from the bathtub." Third, the father had stayed up playing video games from 4:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. the night before the incident, likely contributing to his impaired attention, and then was scrolling TikTok while the child was unsupervised in a filling bathtub. Fourth, the father "consented to a drug screen but was unable to produce any urine," which went unexplained in the report.

Lives Cut Short