Mother Awaiting Charges After Baby Drowns In Bath In OC

PLACENTIA, CA — A 40-year-old mother remained in custody Wednesday, awaiting possible charges, one day after being arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter after her 2-year-old son drowned during a bath at a home in Placentia.

Officers were called to the home in the area of Main Street and Santa Fe Avenue around 9 p.m. Monday, and paramedics rushed the child to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Placentia Police Department.

Investigators determined the boy's mother, later identified as Melissa Lynn Beisel, was giving the child a bath when she stepped away, then returned to find the toddler face down in the water, police said.

"Her statement to investigators was that she stepped away for a short period to grab something," added Placentia Police Department Lt. Joe Connell.

The mother was also taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified self-inflicted injuries, Connell said.

Four other children, all in their early to mid-teens, live at the home, the lieutenant said.

"The investigation revealed that the mother was giving the child a bath in a walk-in shower, using a plastic storage bin," according to Connell. "The mother walked out of the bathroom to obtain some soap and left the child alone for approximately 2 minutes. When the mother returned, she found the child face down in the bin, unresponsive."

Beisel stayed in the bathroom with the child for about six hours before a family member found her and called authorities, Connell said.

"Based on investigation at the scene as well as interviews conducted, Beisel was taken into custody after being discharged from the hospital (and booked on suspicion of) involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing great bodily injury."

Earlier Tuesday, Connell said investigators were in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the home.

The death remains under active investigation, and anyone with information was urged to contact the Placentia Police Department Detective Bureau at 714-993-8146.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIPS-OCCS or occrimestoppers.org.