1-year-old boy drowned after his mother left him unsupervised in a bathtub with high water level while she made breakfast and dried her older child; mother charged
Wisconsin – In a heartbreaking case out of Wisconsin, a 1-year-old boy, identified as Asher D. tragically drowned after his 28-year-old mother, identified as Selena D., left him unsupervised in a bathtub with water deemed too high while she prepared breakfast and tended to another child. The young mother now faces a felony charge following the devastating incident.
Selena has been charged with child neglect resulting in death after her 13-month-old son, Asher, drowned in a bathtub inside their home on May 15. The District Attorney’s Office confirmed the charge following Selena’s arrest.According to the criminal complaint, emergency responders were called to a duplex near 53rd and Custer around 9:30 a.m. after a neighbor heard Selena screaming for help. The witness ran into Selena’s apartment and found her holding the lifeless child in her arms. Asher was described as “blue in color” and unresponsive. Selena and the neighbor attempted CPR until first responders arrived and took over efforts to revive the infant. The little boy was rushed to a children’s hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. The medical examiner determined that Asher’s cause of death was asphyxiation due to drowning.
During an interview with investigators, Selena told police she had run a bath that morning for her two sons, ages 1 and 3. She admitted to filling the tub with a water level that was “just above” the baby’s belly while he was sitting. After washing both children, Selena left them unattended in the tub to make breakfast. She said that shortly after, her 3-year-old son came into the kitchen “soaking wet.” Alarmed, she walked to the bathroom to get a towel and found Asher still playing in the water. She then dried the older boy in the hallway outside the bathroom. But rather than immediately removing Asher from the tub, Selena returned to the kitchen once again. When she came back to the bathroom a second time, she found her 1-year-old floating face down in the water, unresponsive. She screamed for help, which prompted the neighbor to intervene.
During questioning, Selena acknowledged that the water in the tub was likely too high for a child of Asher’s age and that she had left the bathroom despite knowing he was still in the water. She also admitted to being distracted by making breakfast and drying her older son’s hair. Selena has been officially charged with one count of child neglect resulting in death, a Class D felony in Wisconsin, which carries a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
A judge ordered Selena to be held on bond pending further court proceedings. Her next scheduled appearance is set for later this month, where prosecutors are expected to present further details regarding her actions that morning. The incident has left the community reeling over what authorities described as a “preventable tragedy.” Legal experts say the case underscores the serious consequences of even momentary lapses in supervision, especially involving young children and water.
Child safety advocates often stress that babies and toddlers should never be left alone in a bathtub — not even for a moment — as drowning can occur quickly and silently, even in very shallow water. Health agencies warn that children under 4 years old are at the highest risk for unintentional drowning, particularly in home settings. In a statement, authorities urged parents and guardians to always stay within arm’s reach when young children are in or near water. The death of baby Asher serves as a devastating reminder of the life-threatening risks posed by unsupervised water exposure and the importance of vigilance in caregiving.
