CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A harrowing incident unfolded Sunday evening at a residence on South Paint Street in Chillicothe, when a 2-year-old toddler was discovered in a swimming pool, not breathing.
Police rushed to the 200 block of South Paint Street after receiving reports of a child falling into a pool. Upon arrival, officers initiated CPR on the child and immediately called for medics.
The young child, whose identity remains protected, was rushed to the hospital, her condition critical. The child’s parents and several other individuals were present during the incident, police reported.
According to an adult at the scene, the group had been indoors when they realized the child was missing. Panic ensued as they launched a search, with one person ultimately discovering the toddler in the pool. Police emphasized multiple special needs children were on-site, suggesting that one of them might have been responsible for letting the toddler out or leaving a door open.
Officer Casey Cox, who arrived on the scene within moments, reported that CPR had been performed on the child before the arrival of emergency services. Officer Christopher Claytor worked tirelessly to revive the child, providing chest compressions and clearing her airway. The child was subsequently transported to Adena Regional Medical Center.
While enroute to the hospital, officers continued life-saving measures, with Officer Claytor utilizing a bag to provide adequate air to the child’s lungs. Upon arrival at the hospital, medical staff took over, and the child’s condition showed some improvement, though she remained unresponsive.
Detective Lukas Lindamood was called to the scene to investigate the incident. He noted the presence of a small pool in the backyard and a pool ladder, which had been moved prior to the officers’ arrival. Lindamood concluded that it was unlikely the toddler had opened the sliding door herself and that one of the older children likely left it open.
Consultations with the adults on the scene and the medical staff at the hospital suggested that this was a tragic accident and not a case of neglect or abuse.
Despite the initial signs of recovery, the child was later transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in an unresponsive state, with no brain activity reported.
The investigation is ongoing, but all indications suggest a tragic accident, and no charges have been filed at this time.