Kelle Anne Brassart, a 45-year-old from Turlock, California, was convicted of second-degree murder and felony child neglect in the drowning death of her 2-year-old daughter, Daniellé Pires, on September 12, 2025.​
Incident Details
Police responded to Brassart’s home on Fireside Drive around 3:30 p.m. after her 911 call reporting the child unresponsive in the backyard pool. Officers pulled Daniellé from the water and attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at a hospital, just a week before her third birthday. Video evidence showed the toddler struggling in the pool for about 30 minutes while Brassart, intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.246%, chatted on dating apps inside the master bedroom for 45 minutes.​
Neglect Evidence
Prosecutors highlighted Brassart’s failure to enter the pool despite claiming a leg injury requiring a wheelchair; home videos proved she could walk, drive, and attend nail appointments. Liquor bottles were found hidden throughout the home, violating restrictions from her daughter’s father, and she was on probation for prior child abuse after another child ingested medication. She had attended parenting classes on supervision risks but ignored them.​
Trial Outcome
A Stanislaus County jury convicted her on January 9, 2026, agreeing she acted with reckless indifference to human life. Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2026, with a possible term of 15 years to life in prison.
