Infant girl drowned to death after her father put her in a bathtub with the water running and left her unattended while he played a computer game; father charged
Florida – In a heartbreaking case in Florida, a 32-year-old father, identified as J. Ruiz-Martinez, faces severe legal consequences following the drowning death of his infant daughter. The father has been charged with aggravated manslaughter after leaving his baby unattended in a bathtub while he played a computer game. This tragic incident unfolded on the night of April 21, 2024, inside the apartment he shared with his daughter’s mother.
Ruiz-Martinez was reportedly caring for his fussy baby due to her eczema and decided that a bath might soothe her discomfort. According to the arrest affidavit, he told responding officers that he filled the bathtub to the baby’s stomach level and then left her alone with the water running, believing she would be safe for the few minutes he stepped away to prepare a bottle. However, the choice to leave her unattended proved fatal. Upon returning, Ruiz-Martinez discovered his daughter face down and unresponsive in the water. Despite immediate emergency calls, the baby could not be revived, and the medical examiner later confirmed that she had drowned to death.
The investigation took a turn when authorities examined Ruiz-Martinez’s electronic devices. They discovered inconsistencies between his account and the activity logged on his devices. Data extracted from his cellphone and home computer revealed that Ruiz-Martinez had been actively engaged in an online game on his computer during the time he claimed to be tending to his daughter. Investigators found that he had made multiple transactions and progressed in the game precisely when he should have been supervising his child. Gaming timestamps showed continuous activity up until minutes before he dialed 911 to report the drowning. These findings starkly contradicted his initial statement that he was briefly away fetching a bottle for his daughter.
Further deepening the tragedy, Ruiz-Martinez reportedly posted messages on a social media app shortly after the incident, initially claiming that the baby had drowned in a pool and later accusing the law enforcement of a lack of information on the incident. His messages included a chilling warning: “Never leave your kid with no one.” Upon being confronted with the evidence of his gaming during the critical moments leading to his daughter’s drowning, Ruiz-Martinez reportedly became emotional and incredulous at the reality of his actions, lamenting, “I killed my daughter for a game? Please tell me I did not kill my daughter for a game.”
Now, Ruiz-Martinez faces a life-changing legal battle. Charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, he was booked into the county’s jail without the possibility of bond. The case not only highlights the dire consequences of parental negligence but also casts a spotlight on the disturbing ability of digital distractions to override the basic duties of caregiving. As this case progresses, it serves as a grim reminder of the responsibilities that come with parenthood and the tragic outcomes that can result from their neglect. The community and the victim’s family are left to grapple with the loss of a young life and the painful awareness that her untimely death could have been prevented.
