A man and woman in Arkansas are behind bars after allegedly leaving their two young children strapped inside a pickup truck on Wednesday, that rolled into a pond.
CBS reports that Jonathan Daniel Welborn, 30, and Britney Nicole Hairston, 26, were arrested in connection with the deaths of Sophia Welborn, 2, and Zane Welborn, six months. Hairston called authorities on Wednesday night at around 9:45 p.m. and reported the truck and children missing.
Saline County officers searched the area and found the truck immersed in a pond across the road from Welborn’s home in Paron, off of Highway 298. Deputies searched inside the truck and found the two children unresponsive, still strapped in their carseats. Both were later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
According to police, Welborn and Hairston were inside their home playing pool when Welborn’s truck rolled down the highway and crashed into the pond. The children were alone in the truck for around 30 minutes before it rolled away.
Posted by Brittany N Hairston on Thursday, January 26, 2017
According to evidence found and information given, Welborn was driving the truck earlier that evening while the children were inside. Police administered a drug test and Wellborn tested positive for methamphetamine. He reportedly admitted to police that he had smoked meth earlier that day.
Welborn is charged with two counts of endangering a minor and two counts of negligent homicide. Hairston is charged with two felony counts of endangering a minor.
Wellborn is being held at the Saline County Detention Center. His bond was set at $100,000. Hairston, also behind bars, was given a $25,000 bond amount. Both suspects are scheduled to appear in court on August 8.
Check back with Crime Online as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Saline County Detention Center]
