A mother whose 2-year-old son died in an apparent bathing accident in Orange County Monday night has been arrested, police confirmed Tuesday.
Emergency responders were first called to the home on the 200 block of South Main Street near Old Town Placentia around 9 p.m.
The unnamed child and his mother, identified as 40-year-old Melissa Beisel, were taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where the boy was pronounced dead.
Beisel told police she was using a storage bin to bathe her son in the shower and walked out for about two minutes. She said the child was found face down and unresponsive when she returned, a Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA.
While investigators have not contradicted the mother’s account, Placentia Police Department Lt. Connell shared further details that led to Beisel’s arrest.
“The mother began CPR, and when she determined that her CPR was ineffective, the mother harmed herself with a sharp object,” Connell said. “At that point and time, the mother held on to the child in the bathroom for approximately six hours without notifying any other family members in the residence or the authorities.”
Another family member eventually opened the bathroom door around 9 p.m. and called 911, Connell said.
Beisel is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse.