Florida Mom Was 'Drunk & High' While 3-Year-Old Son Almost Drowned In Hotel Hot Tub

According to an affidavit from the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety, Apryl Connolly admitted to consuming marijuana, alcohol, oxycodone, and Suboxone.

March 28, 2019
Mug shot of Apryl Connolly [Volusia County Jail]

Photo by: Mug shot of Apryl Connolly [Volusia County Jail]

Mug shot of Apryl Connolly [Volusia County Jail]

By: Catherine Townsend

DAYTONA, FL — A Florida woman is reportedly facing several charges, including felony child neglect after cops say her 3-year-old son nearly drowned while she was allegedly drunk and high.

According to ABC News, Apryl Connolly, 36, of Deltona, was with the boy, his twin brother, and the children's father, at Perry's Ocean Edge Resort in Daytona Beach around 10 P.M. Sunday.

The toddler, who was reportedly in a hot tub with his twin brother, was allegedly seen on a security camera video going underwater for more than two minutes. Even though a group of people was in the hot tub, no one realized that the boy was drowning, police said.

Investigators said the boy's mother was nearby and meant to be watching him, but admitted she was intoxicated.

The toddler, who was in the hot tub with his twin brother, was seen on a security camera going under water for more than two minutes. Despite the fact that a group of people were in the hot tub, no one realized that the boy was drowning.

Investigators say that his mother was nearby and meant to be watching him, but she later admitted that she was intoxicated.

The desk clerk, Wanda Van Blarrume, saw the victim on the surveillance video from the lobby and alerted a staff member, according to the incident report.

A second staff member, Michael Johnson, reportedly turned the hot tub jets off before leaping into the tub and pulling the boy out.

According to the police, the child did not have a pulse and was not breathing. Johnson and another woman at the resort reportedly performed CPR on the boy until he was able to breathe.

The father allegedly told police he was with the boys in the hot tub but left them in Connolly's care when resort staff informed him the pool was closing, and he went to gather the family's belongings.

"I was definitely watching my son," Connolly allegedly said. "I turned around for two seconds."

According to an affidavit from the Daytona Beach Shores Department of Public Safety, Connolly admitted to consuming marijuana, alcohol, oxycodone, and Suboxone.

She was charged with child neglect as well as destroying/tampering of evidence after officers reviewing the surveillance footage saw her throw something - later described as a blue pill - into the trash. Authorities reportedly arrested her, and she is held without bond.

According to police, the boy was taken to a nearby hospital and is in serious but stable condition.

Read more: ABC News, WTHR

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