An Iowa mother was arrested on child endangerment and neglect charges after her 20-month-old son drowned in the bathtub in her apartment.
West Des Moines police said the baby died on on October 31. First responders were called to the scene at about 7 p.m. and took the child to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police opened an investigation, and on Wednesday arrested Kayla Bevar, charging her with neglect of a dependent and child endangerment resulting in death.
A search warrant filed in the case said that Bevar, 21, told investigators she fell asleep while the toddler was in the tub. When she woke up, she found him unresponsive and called 911, KCCI reported.
“Death investigations are always difficult, even more so when we’re talking about a 20-month-old child. The best thing we can do is to investigate this and pursue justice for this child,” West Des Moines Police Sgt. Dan Wade said.
Court documents also say that the apartment was filled with spoiled food and trash. Officers found dirty diapers in the bathroom and no children’s clothing or baby food.
According to KGAN, Bevar said it was her practice to the leave the baby in the but alone for “five minute” increments. She said she had put the boy in the tub at 6:30 p.m., with the drain plugged and the water running, and checked on him “periodically” before she fell asleep. She returned to the bathroom at 7 p.m. and found the boy floating on his side in the tub, which was overflowing.
Bevar was booked in the Polk County Jail and is being held on a $1 million bond.
