Texas authorities said a woman was chatting on Facebook Messenger last week while her eight-month-old daughter drowned in a bathtub, where she had been left unattended and forgotten.
The drowning occurred on June 13. Cheyenne Stuckey, 21, told authorities she placed her 8-month-old daughter, Zayla Hernandez, in the bathtub, and left her unsupervised “for only a couple of minutes,” KTVT reported.
Stuckey told investigators she left the child alone in the bathroom after she became “distracted” by another another child, and then Facebook Messenger. She added that a television was playing loudly.
When the mother went to check on her baby, she found Zaya floating face-down in the bathtub. She told officials she tried reviving her baby, but “did not know how.”
Authorities arrived at Stuckey’s home after receiving a call about an unresponsive child. Paramedics attempted CPR on the baby to no avail.
Zayla was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An autopsy confirmed that the 8-month-old baby died as a result of drowning.
Investigators determined that Stuckey had been on Facebook Messenger with two people for at least 18 minutes while her baby daughter was alone in the bathtub, according to the sheriff’s office.
Stuckey has three other children: 4-year-old twins and a 2-year-old son. They have all been removed from her custody and placed in a foster home in the wake of Zayla’s death. The mother was charged with injury to a child.
A GoFundMe campaign was set up by the family to help pay for Zayla’s funeral costs. The campaign has raised just $125 out of its $5,000 goal in six days.
The campaign’s description reads:
On Tuesday June 13, The Hernandez & Stuckey family suffered a tragic loss, Sweet Baby Zayla 7 months old ,Gained her wings to [become] Our Beautiful Angel. The family has no final life insurance to be able to give their Angel the proper [Celebratio]n of her life she deserves . This account was created in hopes that we as family, friends, and a community can come together and help this young family out. Baby Zayla has twin sisters Alex, and Leigha (4) and big brother Paul Jr. (2) . Please keep the family and friends in your deepest thoughts and Prayers during this fragile time as they [struggle] to deal with the loss of Beautiful baby Zayla.
No donation is too small, each and every donation will be greatly appreciated to help prepare to lay their Angel to rest.
THANK YOU for all those who have Prayed, called, texted and offered your support to the Family!!
Source: opposingviews.com
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