A Florida mother faces a felony charge after her young daughter drowned at a pool party attended by a large group — spending “several minutes” underwater before anyone realized what was happening.
BRADENTON, Fla. — A 4-year-old girl drowned Saturday night at a Florida apartment pool while surrounded by a large group of party guests — including her own family — who failed to notice she had slipped underwater, police say.
The child’s mother, Rosette Pierrecius, 32, was arrested and charged with one count of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, a second-degree felony under Florida law.
Officers from the Bradenton Police Department were called to the Kendall Ridge Apartment Complex at 302 26th Ave W at approximately 9:10 p.m. Within three minutes of arrival, first responders found the girl and began CPR. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators determined that a crowd of people, including the child’s relatives, had been attending a pool party at the complex when the girl slipped beneath the surface. According to police, she remained “at the bottom of the pool for several minutes” before anyone discovered her.
“You have to pay more attention to the kids when you take them to the pool… kids are kids and they don’t know what’s dangerous there.”
That stark observation came from Hope Levan, a neighbor who arrived home from work Saturday to find eight or nine police cars near the complex. She told ABC affiliate WWSB she had taken her own granddaughter to the same pool just days before.
The scene drew a massive law enforcement response that rattled residents.
In a statement following the arrest, the Bradenton Police Department emphasized that drowning is the leading cause of death for children between ages 1 and 4 — and that it can happen silently, even in a crowd.
Water safety reminders — from Bradenton PD
- Drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1–4 in the U.S.
- Assign a dedicated “water watcher” — one adult focused solely on the children in the water.
- A large crowd does not mean a safe pool. Collective attention is divided attention.
- Even pools with lifeguards require an extra designated adult supervisor for children.
Authorities confirmed the investigation remains active. Pierrecius was being held at Manatee County Jail as of Monday morning. A court date had not been announced.
If you are in crisis or need support, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
