Woman arrested in drowning of year-old daughter
A Miller County woman has been arrested in connection with the drowning death of her 1-year-old daughter.
Danielle Mitchell, 28, was arrested early Friday on a charge of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, according to a news release from the Miller County Sheriff’s Office.
Mitchell was taken into custody and booked into the Miller County Detention Center, where she was being held without bond pending her first judicial court appearance.
Deputies responded to a residence at 7:30 p.m. July 9 on Miller County Road 40 in reference to a drowned toddler with CPR in progress. Upon arrival, deputies found Miller County Volunteer Fire First Responders and LifeNet EMS providing care for the toddler. The victim, a 1-year-old girl, was transported by LifeNet EMS to the CHRISTUS St. Michael hospital, where she was pronounced deceased by the attending physician.
Simultaneously, members of the Miller County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division initiated an investigation into the drowning incident.
Mitchell was apparently caring for three toddlers inside the residence when the drowning occurred in a garden-style bathtub inside the residence, according to the news release. Two of the three toddlers, including the victim, were the biological children of Mitchell. Working in conjunction with the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, and the 8th Judicial District South Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, a warrant was issued.
A Class D felony is punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000.00 fine.