Two individuals have been arrested and are currently incarcerated after authorities revealed that a child, who had nearly drowned three years prior, tragically passed away while under their care in early May. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that Bartow Fire Rescue received a non-emergency call from a woman at approximately 3 p.m., informing them that her toddler’s pulse oximeter was malfunctioning.
However, upon the arrival of emergency responders, they discovered a 3-year-old boy, unresponsive and connected to a ventilator breathing machine. The child was swiftly transported to a local hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd expressed his shock and distress over the situation, stating, “This child was left neglected and deteriorating in bed. The level of horror we witnessed in regard to this poor child is unparalleled in my entire career.”
