1-Year-Old Falls into Bucket of Bleach, Loses Consciousness — and Parents Are Charged

Two Dubuque, Iowa, parents face felony neglect charges after their 1-year-old fell into a bucket of bleach inside their home.

Scott A. Marcov, 30, and Madelyn A. Marcov, 28, were arrested Tuesday and charged with neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, according to KALB.

Scott was reportedly in the bathtub while Madelyn was in the living room when the child fell into the bleach bucket. The child’s head was inside the jug for an unknown length of time, according to a criminal complaint viewed by WSAZ. 

Another child allegedly saw what had happened and carried the child to the couple while calling for help. The 1-year-old had reportedly “suffered acute respiratory failure and loss of consciousness,” per the Telegraph Herald.

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After Madelyn called 911, the child was reportedly taken to UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital, where the child was intubated. After that, the victim was transported to the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center for further treatment. 

Police responded to the home on October 1, according to the documents reviewed by the Telegraph Herald, and found the house “completely filthy,” with both dead and living mice present, as well as food and garbage strewn all over. Three children were inside the home. A used diaper was also found in a cooking pot in the kitchen, per KCRG.

PEOPLE was unable to reach the Dubuque police for comment. It’s unclear whether the couple has a lawyer to comment on their behalf.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.