Parents of Toddler Found Alive in Arizona Morgue Will Not Face Charges

Key Points:

• The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office decided not to charge the parents of an 18-month-old Arizona boy who was found alive in a hospital morgue hours after being declared dead, citing insufficient evidence for prosecution.
• The toddler was initially found unresponsive in a backyard swimming pool on Feb. 8, and despite CPR and medical efforts, was pronounced dead at a hospital before being discovered breathing nearly five hours later by a medical examiner’s employee.
• Investigations revealed that multiple adults were present at the home, which had childproof locks and safety measures, though some doors to the backyard were unsecured, allowing the child access to the pool.
• Police found evidence of marijuana use in the home and recommended child abuse charges, but prosecutors found no signs of parental impairment and concluded the case did not meet the standard for reasonable likelihood of conviction.
• The incident prompted a review of both the circumstances surrounding the drowning and the medical response, with the child transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for further treatment after being found alive.