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A Philadelphia woman has been charged in the drowning death of her 5-month-old daughter at a hotel, where authorities allege she placed the infant in a spa tub while intoxicated, prosecutors said Sept. 8.
Diontae Nicole Beckett, 25, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children in connection with the May 11 death of her daughter at a hotel in Leacock Township, Pennsylvania, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. Leacock Township is located in Lancaster County, about 60 miles west of Philadelphia.
Prosecutors allege Beckett recklessly caused the child’s death after drunkenly placing the girl inside the spa tub at the hotel. The infant later drowned and died.
Beckett told police she had been drinking alcohol throughout the day and had taken her daughter swimming earlier in the afternoon before returning to their hotel room, prosecutors said. She initially denied placing the child in the spa tub, but police later found a photo and video on her phone that allegedly showed the girl in the tub.
“Becket told police she was not aware she had taken the girl into the spa tub,” prosecutors said in a news release, adding that a chemical test found Beckett had a blood alcohol content of 0.149% at the time.
Surveillance video from the hotel showed Beckett entering the lobby carrying the infant, who appeared “lifeless in her arms,” according to prosecutors. Hotel guests called 911 and attempted lifesaving measures before first responders arrived.
Beckett was released from jail after posting $100,000 bail on July 15, online court records show.
She waived her preliminary hearing before a judge on Aug. 26, prosecutors said. Her arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 25, according to court records.