A mom in Alabama has been charged in the drowning death of her 2-year-old son.
Marlena Murray, 29, was indicted Oct. 11 for criminal negligent homicide in the death of her son, Josiah Meadors, according to police.
Investigators said Josiah drowned in a pond after leaving from his home on May 2. Murray's indictment alleges she "recklessly caused the death of another person by being criminally negligent."
Murray Told Cops She was With Meadors Outside When He Ran Off
Police said Murray called 911 that evening about 15 minutes after Josiah reportedly ran off. First responders began searching the 150 acres of wooded property, which contains multiple ponds.
About an hour later, fire crews found Josiah unresponsive in a pond about 1,400 feet from the home. They performed CPR and rushed him to Elmore Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Detective Zack Lyles with the Eclectic Police Department said Murray told 911 she was outside with Josiah before he ran off. She allegedly told them she reached over for her son's cup when she noticed him chasing after his dog. Lyles said Murray claimed she saw where he ran but went in the opposite direction to alert nearby relatives for help before calling 911.
Murray was Using Drugs Taking Nude Photos for Solicitation
Lyles said the investigation determined Murray's claims were not true, and that she was actually inside using illegal narcotics and taking nude photos for solicitation when her son ran off unsupervised. He said this "spoke volumes" as to why she really went in the opposite direction that Josiah did.
"This is something that is not OK," said Lyles.
Murray turned herself in Tuesday and her bail was set at $75,000. In Alabama, criminal negligence homicide is a Class A misdemeanor. It is punishable by up to a year in the county jail.
