Louisiana authorities arrested Joann Johnson, 37, after being accused of negligent homicide for the death of a 3-year-old boy who drowned in a home’s pool where an informal childcare service operated.
The case occurred on May 18 in Prairieville, a community located in Ascension Parish. According to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office investigation, The minor, identified as Ian Perez, fell into a pool located in the backyard of the residence while under Johnson’s supervision.
According to authorities, security camera recordings show that the boy struggled to stay afloat before drowning and remained unconscious in the water for approximately 20 minutes.
The investigation points to a lack of supervision
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Donovan Jackson said one of the most shocking aspects of the investigation was seeing how long the child remained without help.
According to investigators, the images show two young children playing near the pool without water safety equipment. Subsequently, Ian fell into the water and no one intervened for a long period of time.
“More than 20 minutes without supervision represents a serious problem and obvious negligence,” Jackson said in statements to local media.
After receiving an emergency call around 3:50 in the afternoon, agents and medical personnel went to the scene and tried to revive the minor using cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers.
The boy was taken by helicopter to a sanatorium in the area, where he was later pronounced dead.
An unlicensed daycare
Authorities said Johnson did not operate a state-licensed daycare center. According to the investigation, he cared for the minor as part of an informal agreement between known families.
The defendant voluntarily surrendered to the authorities and was released after paying bail of $100,000.
If convicted, she could face a sentence of between two and ten years in prison.
Ian’s relatives described the boy as a happy, energetic minor and very loved by those who knew him.
“He was a very friendly, charismatic and energetic child. He loved playing with his bicycle, his toy cars and his stuffed animals,” the family said in a statement released by local media.
They also highlighted the close relationship he had with his older sister, who was five years old, and pointed out that his mother was a single mother who dedicated all her efforts to the well-being of her children.
The authorities insisted on the need to maintain constant supervision, install adequate protection measures and take extreme precautions when minors are near water.
“If there is a pool and there are children around, especially children who are not your children, there must be all the necessary safety measures to protect them,” Jackson stressed.
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