The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Mom gets 3 years in baby drowning

While on Facebook, Springfield mother left 13-month-old,  2-year-old alone in tub.

State directs $2.1M for scholarships
8:40 p.m.
Health policy help on way
8:27 p.m.
Dayton gets boost from committee for UAV testing
6:14 p.m.
Ohio can finally collect $2.3M in fines
10:22 a.m.
Local soldier looks for job while at war
8:07 a.m.
> More headlines

By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 9:24 AM Wednesday, October 5, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — Spending 16 minutes on Facebook while her baby was in the bathtub will cost a mother three years in prison after she pleaded to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Danita Torres, 27, of 1063 Belmont Ave., was sentenced Tuesday in Clark County Common Pleas Court. Assistant Prosecutor Brian Driscoll said Torres left her 13-month-old son, Drustian Springer, and a 2-year-old alone in the bathtub on May 1.

Cellphone records show she was likely out of the room for about 16 minutes, during which time she put a post on Facebook. When she came back into the bathroom, her baby had drowned, Driscoll said.

But when Judge Richard O’Neill questioned what Torres was doing before her baby died, she said she left to get a diaper and a towel.

“I’m sorry. There’s not really much I can say to bring my son back,” she said.

Two counts of child endangering — one of which was a felony — were dropped as part of a plea agreement. Driscoll said he hopes the punishment is enough to teach parents to not leave children unattended.

“We believe a three-year sentence was something to give (Torres) an opportunity to reflect on what she’s done and make sure this doesn’t happen in the future,” he said.

Residents said they were concerned Torres is just part of a growing issue as technology interferes with parenting.

Brandon Cruise said Facebook encourages people to be “self-centered,” so this case teaches a powerful lesson.

“Take care of your kids and (don’t) get as much on Facebook,” he said.

But resident Marilyn Schneider said she thinks Torres’ case will go unheeded by parents.

“I don’t think they’ll learn anything, to tell you the truth,” she said. “They’ll look at it and say, gee, that’s too bad and go right ahead and do what they want to do.”

Share this article