Grovetown police are investigating the suspected drowning of a 6-year-old girl in a garden tub.
Adelia Tutt was bathing with her 4-year-old brother Thursday night as her father stepped away to take a phone call. The 4-year-old boy later alerted him to his sister being under water, Chief Jamey Kitchens said in a press release. The father then called 911.
First responders arrived to find her lying unresponsive on the bathroom floor. She was pronounced dead after life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
“During the investigation, it was learned that Adelia was bathing with a 4-year-old sibling, in a garden style tub, when for reasons yet to be determined, she became unresponsive and wound-up face down in the water,” Chief Kitchens said. “The 4-year-old sibling had no injuries and conveyed that they were bathing and that Adelia had ‘fallen asleep.’ No visible signs of injury or trauma were observed on Adelia.”
The girl’s body has been transported to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy. The Department of Family and Children Services was notified and have temporarily placed the 4-year-old boy and a 14-year-old special needs sibling with relatives.
The children’s mother was away at a work conference for when the death occurred, but she has since returned, Chief Kitchens said.
“The children’s parents, Mr. Antonio Tutt and Mrs. Chantrese Tutt, are cooperating fully with the investigation,” Chief Kitchen said. “Mr. Tutt was present at the home and had stepped onto the porch to take a phone call at the time of the incident before returning inside and discovering Adelia in the tub.”
As the cause of death has not yet been determined, police said this is an ongoing investigation pending the results of the autopsy as well as toxicology reports on Adelia.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tutt family during this terrible time,” Chief Kitchens said.
