Lutz,Fla. (970 WFLA)-A mother is facing charges after her child drowned in their pool in Hillsborough County. 30 year old Caitlin Powell of Lutz, turned herself in this week on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child.
Deputies say, two months ago, before Powell went to start her work-shift at JT'S Road House Bar on N. Florida Avenue, she took one 15 mg pill of morphine, which was prescribed by a doctor, a few hours later, according to the sheriff's report, Powell took a half of a morphine pill, and drank four to five shots of Bailey's Irish Cream.
When her shift ended just before 3 am, she drove to her friends house and picked up her daughter, then drove to her home on Willow Pond Drive, put the child to bed and went to sleep.
Powell told detectives she woke up twice that morning to change her daughters diapers. It was 12:45 pm, when Powell was awakened by an unidentified witness who told her that her daughter was in the back yard pool.
Three-year-old Jasmine had walked through an unsecured sliding glass door, slipped through a hole in a fence, and fell into the pool, heavily ridden with green algae. The sheriff's report says visibility into the water was barely past the first step. Deputies estimate the girl was unsupervised for more than four hours. Powell has been released on bond.
Photo Credit: Hillsborough Sheriff's Office