A Tennessee woman now faces charges of first degree murder in addition to child abuseafter her infant boy drowned in a bathtub while she went outside to smoke a cigarette.
Lindsee Louise Leonardo, 32, told deputies she left 11-month-old Aiden Xavier Leonardo and his 23-month-old sister in four to six inches of water last Wednesday while she took “me time” outside her suburban Knox County home, WBIR reported.
“(Leonardo) stated she was outside for about 10 minutes and listened to two songs on her phone,” an arrest warrant reads. “Defendant stated when she came back inside she went to the bathroom to find the 23-month-old had turned the water on and the bathtub was filled to the top.”
The baby was floating on his back not breathing, she said, while the toddler was standing in the tub.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that Leonardo called 911, and dispatchers instructed her on CPR. When emergency personnel arrived, they took the boy to Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center, and he regained a heartbeat on the way. He was transferred to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, where he died.
Leonardo was initially charged with felony aggravated child abuse, neglect and endangerment and held on $100,000 bond. With the first degree murder charge, a $250,000 bond was added.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office did not explain the additional charge.
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[Featured image: Aiden Xavier Leonardo and Lindsee Louise Leonardo/Knox County Sheriff’s Office]
