Baby drowns after mother drunkenly puts her in hotel spa tub, officials say

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (Gray News) - A Pennsylvania mother is accused of causing her 5-month-old daughter’s death when officials say she drunkenly put the baby in a hotel spa tub in which she drowned.

Diontae Nicole Beckett, 25, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children after her 5-month-old daughter drowned at a Leacock Township hotel, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.

Beckett is accused of recklessly causing her daughter’s death when officials say she drunkenly put the 5-month-old in a spa tub at the hotel on May 11. The baby drowned and died.

Surveillance video from the hotel shows Beckett walk into the lobby while carrying her daughter, who “appears lifeless in her arms,” according to the district attorney’s office. Several hotel guests called 911 and tried to save the baby before first responders arrived.

Beckett allegedly told Pennsylvania State Police in an interview that she had been drinking alcohol throughout the day. The district attorney’s office says a breath test determined she had a blood alcohol content of 0.149%.

Police found a picture and video of Beckett’s daughter in the spa tub on her phone; though Beckett told them she didn’t realize she had taken her daughter into the tub.

Beckett was released from custody after posting $100,000 bail. She waived a preliminary hearing on Aug. 26, so her case will proceed to court.