On September 25, 2022, a 2-year-old boy was found unresponsive and face-down in a neighbor's above-ground swimming pool in Charleston, Bradley County, Tennessee, at approximately 1:30 PM. The child had been left in the care of his birth father, who had worked until 12:30 AM and fell asleep after putting on a movie for the child around 9:15 AM. The child, who had recently learned to unlock the front door, exited the home undetected and made his way to the neighbor's unfenced pool approximately 100 yards away. Neighbors discovered the child and began CPR while calling 911. When neighbors went to the family home, they found the front door open and the father asleep in the back bedroom. Despite hours of lifesaving efforts at the hospital, the child was pronounced dead at 10:15 PM. The autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning and the manner was accidental. Neighbors reported the child had escaped the home unsupervised approximately 5-9 times prior to this incident. The father was arrested on March 20, 2023, and charged with aggravated child neglect and criminally negligent homicide.
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 autopsy concluded: "the main cause of death to [REDACTED] is drowning. The manner of death is consistent with accident despite the fact that this was an unwitnessed drowning." The child was found "face down in a neighbors above ground swimming pool." The news article from WDEF also reports: "Carroll's neighbors found the child unresponsive in their pool on September 25, 2022."
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 falling asleep while the 2-year-old was in his care, allowing the child to leave the home unsupervised and ultimately drown in a neighbor's pool. The closing summary states: "Mr. [REDACTED] stated that he put a movie on for [REDACTED] to watch in the living room while he went to his bedroom and went to sleep." The case was substantiated for "Lack of Supervision" and the autopsy noted: "The child was in the custody of his father who took an afternoon nap. This enabled the child to exit the residence and end up in the swimming pool." Neighbors reported the child had gotten out of the home "approximately 5-9 times" prior to the incident while in the care of both parents.
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 identifies the alleged perpetrator as the child's birth father. The closing summary states: "The Alleged Perpetrator (AP) was identified as birth father [REDACTED]." He was the sole caretaker at the time of the drowning, having gone to sleep while the child was awake. The WDEF news article identifies him as David Carroll Jr., who was "indicted for aggravated child neglect and criminally negligent homicide."
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)?
The fatality report documents prior DCS history including a resource linkage case: "The family has minor history with the Department which included a resource linkage case that closed in June 2022 for resources for food and furnishings." The DCS history section lists: "Date: 05/08/2020/Investigation ID#: [REDACTED] Resource Linkage." Additionally, the intake summary notes "Screen Outs: [REDACTED]" and "History (not listed above): R/L # [REDACTED] 6.18.2022," indicating prior reports were received.
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 March 20, 2023 [REDACTED] was arrested and charged with aggravated child neglect and criminally negligent homicide in the death of [REDACTED]." The WDEF news article confirms: "A Bradley County Grand Jury indicted David Carroll Jr. for aggravated child neglect and criminally negligent homicide... Carroll being indicted, charged and arrested on March 20, 2023. They are holding him on a $35,000 bond."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report explicitly describes domestic violence between the parents. The mother stated: "Mr. [REDACTED] kind of chucked me across the room" regarding a 2018 incident. The father "is on misdemeanor probation in [REDACTED] for domestic violence from 2018." The FAST assessment notes: "There has been domestic violence between the mother and father in the past. The father is currently on misdemeanor probation in McMinn county for DV against the mother." The father also told the CM: "Mrs. [REDACTED] gets more violent than me."
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?
The fatality report documents the mother's mental health history extensively. She "was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2009 and has been going to [REDACTED] since that time," is "prescribed medication for anxiety," specifically "Buspirone this year," and "has been on several different medications throughout the years." The father also reported mental health concerns: "he believes he has anxiety but has never been formally diagnosed." The FAST assessment rates the mother's mental health at 1, noting she "is receiving mental health services through Hiwassee for anxiety and depression," and the father's at 1.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report documents several prior criminal matters for both parents that predate the child's death. The father was "on misdemeanor probation in [REDACTED] for domestic violence from 2018" and "currently has a warrant for violation of probation." The mother stated she "was arrested last year for simple possession of THC" and "is on misdemeanor probation [REDACTED] County for this." The father was also on misdemeanor probation for simple possession of THC. These all predate the September 2022 drowning incident.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report documents substance use history for both parents. The mother stated: "she was previously smoking THC but never around [REDACTED]" and both parents were on "misdemeanor probation in [REDACTED] County for simple possession as they were in the car together and THC was in the car." The FAST assessment notes for the father: "the father is reported to have a past history of methamphetamine use prior to the child's birth." The mother also references a 2018 domestic violence incident where the father "got a pill from a friend, and she believes that this facilitated the incident."
Notable Details
The fatality report contains several notable systemic and environmental details. The neighbor's above-ground pool had no fencing, gate, or safety barriers, and "the ladder left in place, making is accessible to enter," within 100 yards of the family home. Neighbors reported the child had escaped the home "approximately 5-9 times" prior to the incident, yet "None of the neighbors had called law enforcement when the child got out due to they knew who he belonged to." The family reported being unable to afford child safety locks for the front door due to extreme financial hardship, planning to buy them on the mother's next payday (the day after the drowning). There was no cell phone service in the area, limiting communication. Additionally, the autopsy found "poorly chewed toy parts" in the child's stomach, described as "soft and red with blue trim which represent parts of a character toy," though this was not a contributing factor in the death. The initial notification of the drowning spread via social media before the mother was informed directly.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.