A woman, age 31, has been arrested in connection with the tragic death of her one-year-old son, who drowned in a bathtub after reportedly being left unattended in the water for nearly 15 minutes. Courtney Marie Newsom faces charges of felony manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
Authorities were called to the family’s residence on September 7 after receiving a report about an unconscious infant. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Newsom administering CPR to her son in the bathroom.
Medical personnel took over resuscitation efforts and rushed the child to a nearby hospital for treatment. Despite their efforts, the young boy succumbed to his injuries on September 13.
During initial questioning by the police in Arkansas, Newsom claimed that she briefly left the bath area and returned to find her son in distress. However, in a subsequent interview with the Brookland Police Department, she provided a different account of the events, stating she had been out of the bathroom for 14 minutes while her children were unsupervised.
A warrant for Newsom’s arrest was issued on October 8, leading to her apprehension on October 11. She appeared in court on October 15, where she was ordered to post a bond of $15,000 (£11,300). Newsom has since posted bail and is set to appear for her arraignment on November 25.