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3-Year-Old, 6-Year-Old Found Dead In Arlington Pool Last Month
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The parents of two children who drowned last month in an Arlington pool have been arrested on aggravated manslaughter and child neglect charges.
Gerrard Ibeagwa, 6, and Blessing Ibeagwa, 3, were found unresponsive in their neighbor's swimming pool on Sunrise Ridge Lane on June 19.
Their parents, Markanthony Ibeagwa, 45, and Jovita Ibeagwa, 41, were charged Monday.
Video: 2 Drowned Children's Parents Arrested
A neighbor found the gate to his yard open when he discovered the children in his pool. Police said a wooden step ladder that did not belong to him was also found outside the gate.
Jovita Ibeagwa, the mother of the children, told detectives she left for work at 6:35 p.m. that day. Before leaving the home, she called her husband and children's father, Markanthony Ibeagwa, police said.
Officers said Markanthony was at work and told Jovita he would leave work and come home to watch the children. Police said Jovita left the children unattended and drove to her job site. They said she was unaware of any problems until she received a phone call telling her the police and Fire Rescue were at her home. Police said Jovita left her work and drove directly home.
Markanthony said he was at work when he received a phone call from Jovita telling him to come home, police said. Officers said Markanthony did not leave his job site. They said he claimed, at first, that his car broke down. Then Markanthony changed his story and admitted he wanted to stay at work to get more hours of pay, according to police.
Police said Markanthony admitted the couple had left the children unattended on other occasions.
Police said an autopsy revealed the children accidentally drowned. Officers said both parents admitted they individually and collectively failed to supervise their young children, and both children died as a result of their lack of supervision.
The state attorney's office released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"Parents and caregivers owe a special duty to provide their children with the supervision and care necessary for those dependent upon them. When parents and caregivers fail in that obligation, it is the duty of law enforcement to investigate and charge those responsible. We are mindful of the great loss these parents have suffered, but the facts and circumstances of this case demand the filing of criminal charges.
Parental responsibility for the safety and supervision of their children has, and will remain, a bedrock principle of the State's Attorney 0ffice."
According to the Ibeagwas' attorney and family friend, Rhonda Peoples-Waters, both parents are certified as nursing assistants. Peoples-Waters said Markanthony worked for a private health agency and Jovita worked at Shands.
Peoples-Waters said at the time of the children's deaths, Markanthony was also in school for automotive technicians training and working his other job. She said the Nigerian couple was not in financial distress.
"I had offered to take care of their kids if they needed help, and I didn't hear nothing about it," said one neighbor who didn't want to be identified. "I'm a stay-at-home mom. I had all the free time in the world. I am always willing to help."
Most neighbors along the street said the charges against the drowned children's parents are appropriate.
"These are kids' lives, children's lives, and we need to watch out for them," one neighbor said. "And if they're not held accountable, if we don't protect them, who will?"
John Harrell, a Department of Children and Families spokesman, said there is no Florida statute stating what age a parent can leave a child home unattended.
"Certainly when we hear parents saying they leave their kids home on a regular basis, this is concerning to us. This should not be happening," Harrell said.
Parents Charged In Children's Drownings - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The parents of two children who drowned last month in an Arlington pool have been arrested on aggravated manslaughter and child neglect charges.
Gerrard Ibeagwa, 6, and Blessing Ibeagwa, 3, were found unresponsive in their neighbor's swimming pool on Sunrise Ridge Lane on June 19.
Their parents, Markanthony Ibeagwa, 45, and Jovita Ibeagwa, 41, were charged Monday.
Video: 2 Drowned Children's Parents Arrested
A neighbor found the gate to his yard open when he discovered the children in his pool. Police said a wooden step ladder that did not belong to him was also found outside the gate.
Jovita Ibeagwa, the mother of the children, told detectives she left for work at 6:35 p.m. that day. Before leaving the home, she called her husband and children's father, Markanthony Ibeagwa, police said.
Officers said Markanthony was at work and told Jovita he would leave work and come home to watch the children. Police said Jovita left the children unattended and drove to her job site. They said she was unaware of any problems until she received a phone call telling her the police and Fire Rescue were at her home. Police said Jovita left her work and drove directly home.
Markanthony said he was at work when he received a phone call from Jovita telling him to come home, police said. Officers said Markanthony did not leave his job site. They said he claimed, at first, that his car broke down. Then Markanthony changed his story and admitted he wanted to stay at work to get more hours of pay, according to police.
Police said Markanthony admitted the couple had left the children unattended on other occasions.
Police said an autopsy revealed the children accidentally drowned. Officers said both parents admitted they individually and collectively failed to supervise their young children, and both children died as a result of their lack of supervision.
The state attorney's office released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"Parents and caregivers owe a special duty to provide their children with the supervision and care necessary for those dependent upon them. When parents and caregivers fail in that obligation, it is the duty of law enforcement to investigate and charge those responsible. We are mindful of the great loss these parents have suffered, but the facts and circumstances of this case demand the filing of criminal charges.
Parental responsibility for the safety and supervision of their children has, and will remain, a bedrock principle of the State's Attorney 0ffice."
According to the Ibeagwas' attorney and family friend, Rhonda Peoples-Waters, both parents are certified as nursing assistants. Peoples-Waters said Markanthony worked for a private health agency and Jovita worked at Shands.
Peoples-Waters said at the time of the children's deaths, Markanthony was also in school for automotive technicians training and working his other job. She said the Nigerian couple was not in financial distress.
"I had offered to take care of their kids if they needed help, and I didn't hear nothing about it," said one neighbor who didn't want to be identified. "I'm a stay-at-home mom. I had all the free time in the world. I am always willing to help."
Most neighbors along the street said the charges against the drowned children's parents are appropriate.
"These are kids' lives, children's lives, and we need to watch out for them," one neighbor said. "And if they're not held accountable, if we don't protect them, who will?"
John Harrell, a Department of Children and Families spokesman, said there is no Florida statute stating what age a parent can leave a child home unattended.
"Certainly when we hear parents saying they leave their kids home on a regular basis, this is concerning to us. This should not be happening," Harrell said.
Parents Charged In Children's Drownings - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville