4-year-old girl and 6-year-old boy found floating face down in a pool after the girl’s mother held their entire bodies underwater attempting to drown them; woman arrested

Oklahoma – In a harrowing incident in Oklahoma, two young children were nearly drowned by a woman, who is now facing serious criminal charges. This traumatic event unfolded on a busy day at the public pool, shedding light on the vital role of vigilant lifeguards and community safety measures.

On a seemingly ordinary afternoon on June 27, chaos ensued at the public pool. A 34-year-old woman, identified as F. Ontiveros, attempted to drown her four-year-old daughter and six-year-old nephew during a visit to the pool. Lifeguards at the scene noticed the children floating face down in about three feet of water and sprang into action.

The children were quickly rescued from the water; one was unresponsive and required CPR. Thanks to the lifeguards’ prompt response and the training they received, both children regained consciousness and were alert by the time the police arrived. They were then transported to a local hospital for further treatment and, fortunately, are expected to make a full recovery.

The incident led to the arrest of Ontiveros, who now faces two counts of child abuse. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing Ontiveros smiling while holding the children underwater, a detail that she chillingly corroborated in a later police interview. Despite initially denying the accusations, Ontiveros later admitted in an interview that such actions were within the realm of what she might do, although she claimed not to remember the specifics of the event.

Several months after the incident, police interviewed the four-year-old girl, who told them her mother had ‘pushed her face underwater’ and that ‘her eyes were open and she was breathing water’. The young girl also told authorities that her mother had ‘attempted to force her to swallow water’.

The affidavit filed by the police highlighted the disturbing nature of Ontiveros’ actions, noting that she seemed unfazed and calm while discussing the incident. This behavior, coupled with the physical evidence and witness statements, led to her being held at the county’s detention center with a bond set at $250,000.

The community has been shaken by this event, which occurred just days after the children’s aunt was released on bond for a previous assault. The quick thinking and training of the lifeguards at the pool were crucial in preventing a double tragedy. These individuals are entrusted with significant responsibilities, and their actions in this incident have demonstrated their capability and the effectiveness of their training.