Bradenton mother now faces manslaughter charge in child’s drowning, police say
A Bradenton woman accused in the drowning death of her 4-year-old daughter at a pool party now faces a more serious charge, according to the Bradenton Police Department.
The State Attorney’s Office upgraded the charge against Rosette Pierrecius, 32, to aggravated manslaughter of a child, a first-degree felony, after she was originally arrested May 10 on a charge of child neglect causing great bodily harm.
Florida law generally applies the charge when prosecutors allege a child’s death resulted from a caregiver’s reckless disregard for human life or safety. The upgraded charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, compared with 15 years for the original charge.
The charge stems from the May 9 drowning death of Pierrecius’ daughter at a birthday pool party at Kendall Ridge Apartment Homes, 302 26th Ave. W., Bradenton.
According to investigators, Pierrecius, her daughter and other family members attended the gathering at the apartment complex pool after it had closed for the evening. Investigators said the child could not swim and was never taught how to stay afloat on her own.
Surveillance footage reviewed by detectives showed the child entering the pool through the steps at 8:52 p.m. without Pierrecius noticing, according to an arrest report. About three minutes later, the girl moved into deeper water and disappeared beneath the surface.
New charge in Bradenton drowning death
Investigators said the child remained underwater for approximately nine minutes before another adult at the party spotted her at the bottom of the pool and pulled her out.
Officers were dispatched to the apartment complex at 9:10 p.m. and arrived within minutes. They began CPR before emergency crews transported the girl to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to the report.
Police said Pierrecius initially told officers she left the child near the pool and asked two children to watch her while she went to the bathroom. Investigators said they later determined that account was inconsistent with surveillance footage.
According to police, video showed Pierrecius away from the pool area for several minutes before returning and spending additional time looking at her cellphone and socializing before realizing her daughter was missing. Investigators said Pierrecius later admitted she never asked an adult to watch the child.
Pierrecius also told detectives she consumed six Corona beers during the party, according to the arrest report. A preliminary breath test administered several hours after the drowning showed a blood alcohol content of .124, investigators wrote.
Pierrecius remains in custody at the Manatee County Jail, records show.
Bradenton police said detectives are seeking additional witnesses who attended the pool party or were in the vicinity of the pool that evening. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brian Gates at brian.gates@bradentonpd.com.
