A 19-year-old man faces charges of second-degree murder and negligent child abuse resulting in serious injury after a 14-month-old boy drowned in a bathtub at an apartment complex in Garner, North Carolina.
According to an arrest warrant cited by authorities, the incident occurred on Sunday in a residential complex located in the 700 block of Cooperline Drive, a town located on the outskirts of Raleigh.
The accused, identified as Angel Deras-Rivas, was the only person responsible for the care of the minor at the time of the incident.
Authorities say the child was left alone in a bathtub full of water
According to the investigation, Deras-Rivas left the child unsupervised in a bathtub filled with water, an action that, according to the court order, constituted conduct with “reckless disregard for human life” due to an omission considered grossly negligent.
The authorities maintain that this omission caused serious injuries that led to the death of the minor.
The boy, whose identity has not been released, was later pronounced dead.
Police indicated that Deras-Rivas is married to the child's mother.
Prosecutors charged with second-degree murder
In addition to the charge of negligent child abuse, the arrest warrant states that the defendant “unlawfully, voluntarily and intentionally, with premeditated malice, killed and murdered” the minor.
If convicted of second-degree murder, he could face up to life in prison.
So far, authorities have not reported how long the child was left unsupervised or what the defendant was doing while the child was alone in the bathtub.
Following his arrest, Deras-Rivas was taken to the Wake County Jail, where he remains held without bail.
The authorities also reported that the accused is under immigration retention.
During a hearing on Monday, a judge appointed him a public defender.
His next court appearance was scheduled for August 24.
The investigation continues and authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding the child's death.
