Louisiana Babysitter Arrested After Toddler Drowns in Backyard Pool

A Louisiana babysitter has been arrested after a three-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool and wasn’t found for 20 minutes, according to the cops.

Joann Johnson, a 37-year-old from Prairieville, turned herself in to the authorities on Wednesday, following the drowning at her in-home daycare.

Deputies arrived at Johnson’s home on May 18 in response to a 911 call about the drowning, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post Thursday.

First responders tried to save the child’s life, performing CPR and airlifting him to the hospital. But the child later died.

Investigators combed through surveillance video to find out what events led to the drowning.

Two young children in Johnson’s care were playing near the pool when the victim fell in, according to the video. Police said the children were not wearing any safety gear.

The three-year-old remained unconscious in the pool for about 20 minutes until Johnson was seen grabbing him, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Johnson, and she was later booked in the Ascension Parish Jail. She was charged with one count of Negligent Homicide.

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, according to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Drowning can happen as fast as 30 seconds, the alliance warns.

Nearly 70 percent of child drownings happen during non-swim times, and 88 percent occur with at least one adult present, according to the alliance.

The alliance advises caregivers to watch children closely when they are in or near water and to have pools enclosed by fencing and other safety barriers.