A mom in California is facing charges after her two-year-old son died during bath time.
Police in Placentia said they got a call on September 22 about a little boy who wasn’t breathing. When officers and paramedics arrived, they found the child in the bathroom and tried to save him.
The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly, he didn’t make it.
The mom, Melissa Lynn Beisel, 40, was also in the bathroom and had some injuries. Police said they weren’t life-threatening.
Investigators say Beisel was giving her son a bath in a plastic bin in the shower. She left him alone for about two minutes to grab some soap. When she came back, the little boy was face down in the water and not breathing.
Police say Beisel tried CPR, but it didn’t work. They believe she then hurt herself.
According to police, Beisel stayed in the bathroom with her son for about six hours before a family member found them and called for help.
After she was released from the hospital, Beisel was arrested. She’s accused of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse that caused serious harm.
Even though police don’t think Beisel meant to hurt her son, they say she was careless by leaving him alone in the bath and not calling for help sooner.
Beisel lived with her partner and their five kids. The little boy who died was the youngest. The other children are between elementary school and their mid-teens.
A neighbor said the family seemed “normal” and “loving.” However, she also mentioned that someone from Child Protective Services came to her house looking for Beisel a few months ago. The reason for this visit isn’t clear.
The police are still investigating. If you have any information, please call the Placentia Police Department Detective Bureau at (714) 993-8146. You can also leave an anonymous tip with Orange County Crimestoppers.
