A Kentucky father is facing criminal charges after authorities alleged that he left his infant daughter unattended in a bathtub filled with water while using his phone in another room.
The child survived the frightening incident and is expected to make a full recovery, but investigators say the situation could easily have ended in tragedy.
According to police in Covington, Kentucky, emergency responders were called to an apartment after receiving reports of an infant who was not breathing.
Investigators allege that the child’s father, 20-year-old Seffan Mederious, had been in another room scrolling through his phone while the baby remained in the bathtub.
When he returned to the bathroom, he reportedly found the infant floating in the water.
Authorities say the father then went to a relative’s home instead of immediately remaining at the scene.
The relative reportedly contacted emergency services, and the child was rushed to hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Fortunately, doctors later indicated that the infant is expected to recover.
But the incident has sparked outrage and renewed conversations about child supervision and the dangers of leaving young children unattended near water, even for a short period.
Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders said investigators believe the father left the scene after the incident.
According to Sanders, officers later located him at a nearby relative’s residence.
“He didn’t stick around to help police and firefighters, and he didn’t respond to the hospital to see how the baby was doing,” Sanders reportedly said while discussing the case.
Authorities have charged Mederious with wanton endangerment and criminal abuse.
He appeared before a court for a preliminary hearing, and prosecutors say the case is expected to be presented before a grand jury.
Officials stressed that while parenting is not about perfection, children must never be placed in situations that could expose them to serious injury or death.
The case has since generated strong reactions online, with many parents using the incident as a reminder that infants can encounter life-threatening situations within seconds when left unsupervised around water.