A Texas mother has been charged after her two young daughters were found unresponsive in a backyard pool while she was allegedly asleep inside the home, according to police.
Two Children Found in Backyard Pool
Laura Nicholson, 23, faces two counts of injury to a child following the deaths of her daughters, ages 2 and 3, in Katy, Texas.
Investigators said the children’s grandmother returned home on Feb. 11 and found both girls in the pool before calling 911.
Family members and neighbours pulled the children from the water and attempted CPR.
Mother Allegedly Asleep During Incident
According to court documents, Nicholson told police she had fallen asleep on the couch and woke up after hearing her mother screaming.
Police said Nicholson’s father told investigators that she “falls asleep a lot,” adding that it had caused problems in the past.
Authorities said the children had been playing in the living room before the grandmother left the house earlier that morning.
Cocaine Found in Children’s Systems
An autopsy later revealed both children had cocaine and a cocaine metabolite in their systems.
The medical examiner said drowning could not be confirmed or ruled out as the cause of death.
Investigators also noted that the children reportedly had easy access to the pool because the backdoor latch was not working properly.
Prior CPS Concerns Mentioned
Court records state Child Protective Services had previously received complaints involving alleged cocaine use by Nicholson.
Police arrested Nicholson in Florida before charging her in connection with the deaths.
