California Mom Found Guilty of Murder After Her 2-Year-Old Daughter Drowned While She Was Intoxicated and on Dating Apps By Gabrielle Rockson

A woman from California has been convicted of second-degree murder following the drowning death of her 2-year-old daughter. Evidence shown at trial demonstrated that the woman was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

On Friday, Jan. 9, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced in a press release that Kelle Anne Brassart, 45, of Turlock, had been convicted of second-degree murder and felony child neglect following the death of her daughter, Daniellé Pires. 

“An allegation that Brassart was on probation for child abuse at the time of the death was also found true. Brassart is facing 15-years to life in prison,” the release read.

Brassart called authorities on Sept. 12 to report that her daughter “was floating in the pool.”

“After the 911 call, Brassart remained in the home and never attempted to rescue Daniellé,”  District Attorney Jeff Laugero said.

While Brassart claimed she couldn’t reach her daughter due to “a leg injury and needed the use of a wheelchair,” authorities found evidence that demonstrated she was able to drive, go to nail appointments, and move without needing a wheelchair.

PEOPLE has contacted the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office for further comment, but didn’t immediately receive a response.

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“Brassart possessed a walking boot and crutches in the home,” the statement continued. “Video evidence was introduced at trial showing her walking and standing without the use of a wheelchair prior to the drowning.”

“Empty and full liquor bottles were found hidden throughout” the property, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office said, per SFGATE.

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Brassart had also been found to be talking to men on dating apps for 45 minutes while her daughter was left alone, according to the outlet. 

After receiving the 911 call, “the Turlock Police Department immediately responded to the home and pulled Daniellé’s lifeless body from the pool,” per the DA’s release.

Despite life-saving measures being performed, the little girl was pronounced dead.

She reportedly died a week before her third birthday, according to theTurlock Journal.

The press release also notes that Brassart was displaying “signs of impairment” when authorities arrived. “Evidence at trial demonstrated that Brassart’s BAC [base alcohol level] level was .246% at the time of the drowning.” According to the Cleveland Clinic, at this level, a person may experience “confusion, vomiting and drowsiness.”

On Dec. 22, Brassart, who has five surviving children, took to the witness stand in court and said that she had asked her daughter to let the dogs out on Sept. 12, Turlock Journal reported. The girl then went into the backyard with the dogs and was unsupervised for almost 30 minutes.

The little girl then struggled for some time after entering the pool before she stopped moving and was eventually pulled out by an officer, per the outlet.

At the time of Pires’ drowning, prosecutors found that Brassart was already on probation for child abuse after a child in her care was hospitalized for nearly one week after taking medication, SFGATE reported.

“This is a case where the defendant knew, and she didn’t care,” Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa said in her closing statement, per Turlock Journal. “She didn’t care that her daughter was at risk; she didn’t care that she wasn’t watching her; because all she wanted to do was be selfish and get drunk.”

Brassart is set to be sentenced on Feb. 5, according to SFGATE.

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.