Mary Simpkins told police that her 4-year-old son drowned in a bathtub after she briefly left him unattended to check on another child.
When she came back into the bathroom, she found Christian Simpkins not breathing and called 911, according to a search warrant affidavit filed at the Prince William County courthouse.
Christian was taken to a local hospital about 10:30 p.m. April 1 and pronounced dead.
Mary Simpkins and her husband Robert are being investigated for possible felony child neglect, court documents state. No one has been charged and police said they do not yet know if any crime was committed.
It is still unclear how long the boy was left unattended.
Police seized towels, wash cloths, a medicine syringe and spoon, multiple computers and a stained cotton swab found on the dining room floor of the home. The couple also handed over their cell phones, which investigators will use to check phone records, text messages, stored photos and contacts that could help the investigation, according to the affidavit.
The couple has cooperated in each phase of the investigation, police said.
Safety officials said the case highlights the need for parents to stay vigilant when it comes to their children’s safety.
“Anytime a child is left around water, fire or heat, anything can happen,” said Bob Wall, with the Prince William Safe Kids Coalition. “In a case this, a young child can slip in the water, the sides of a bathtub are slippery and the child may be too small to regain their footing.”
In 2005, more than 3,500 people drowned in the U.S. One in four of the victims were age 14 and under, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Working in public safety for 20 years, Wall said he knows small children are especially at risk.
“A child that age can drown in a puddle, as we’ve seen before with small children and infants,” said Wall.
With the onset of summer pool and party season, Wall suggested parents make sure they keep a close watch on their children, and that fences be installed around pools and other bodies water to prevent children from getting near them unattended.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-530-3905.
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