An unsettling tragedy unfolded in Arkansas, where a 31-year-old mother faces charges following the tragic drowning of her toddler. The incident occurred in Brookland, where police arrested Courtney Marie Newsom, accusing her of felony manslaughter and two counts of third-degree child endangerment.

The heart-wrenching events began on September 7 when officers from the Brookland Police Department responded to an emergency call at the Logan Street and Wagner Place Apartments. The call reported an unresponsive infant, prompting an immediate response from first responders. According to local news outlet JonesboroRightNow, which referenced a probable cause affidavit, the child had been left unattended in the bathtub for approximately 15 minutes.

When authorities arrived, they found Newsom desperately trying to revive her son through CPR. Medical personnel quickly took over, performing life-saving measures before rushing the infant to a nearby hospital for urgent care. Tragically, despite their efforts, the young boy could not be saved.

In her statement to the police, Newsom claimed she stepped out of the bathroom for less than two minutes, only to return and find her son unresponsive. This account starkly contrasts with the timeline suggested in the affidavit, raising further questions during the investigation.

This case underscores the critical importance of constant supervision of young children, particularly around water. As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the devastating loss of a young life. The legal proceedings against Newsom will seek to establish the facts surrounding this tragic incident.

“Officers spoke with Courtney about what had happened. Courtney said she was giving her son and daughter a bath and that she left the room for approximately 60 to 90 seconds,” the affidavit said, per the Jonesboro Sun. “When Courtney returned, she found her son laying on his back with water over his lips and nose and that she grabbed him out of the tub and started CPR.”

The boy was pronounced dead on the evening of Sept. 13.

In a second interview with investigators, Newsom reportedly provided a different version of events, this time allegedly explaining she left her son alone in the bath for more than 10 minutes.

“She said that she got up at 6:55 a.m. and both kids had been sick but her son seemed better but that she was going to call into work so she could take them to the doctor. She said that she gets up at 6:55 a.m., gets the kids ready for a bath, that’s my morning routine,” the affidavit reportedly said. “So then, she said she put them in the bath, then walked out of the room to put her daughter’s phone in her backpack. ‘I then text my mom and thought I had only been out of the room for a minute but I lost track of time cause I was gone for 14 minutes. The reason I know this is because I text my mom the first time at 7 a.m. and called her when I found my son at 7:14 a.m.’”

A warrant for Newsom’s arrest was issued Oct. 8, and she was taken into custody on Oct. 11, according to NEA Report. She appeared in court on Oct. 15, when Judge David Boling ordered her to be held in lieu of $15,000 bond, which Newsom later posted.

A GoFundMe was started to assist Newsom in paying her legal costs. The post says that following her arrest, Newsom was placed “in isolation and on suicide watch” while at the Craighead County Jail.

Newsom is currently scheduled to appear in court again for her arraignment on Nov. 25.