California mom convicted of murder for letting toddler drown while she chatted with men on dating apps

Kelle Anne Brassart, 45, was convicted on Tuesday of second-degree murder as well as felony child endangerment after her toddler-aged daughter, Daniellé Pires, drowned in the family pool. Brassart called 911 at around 3:30 pm on Sept. 12 when she found the girl floating in the pool unresponsive. The toddler was pulled from the pool by first responders who attempted to resuscitate the child, but were not successful.

Surveillance footage of the pool showed that the 2-year-old was left outside unattended for an extended period of time before Brassart alerted authorities of the drowning. Authorities found that even after she called for help, Brassart “remained in the home and never attempted to rescue Daniellé." The woman left her daughter without supervision for 45 minutes as she was talking to men on dating apps.

Brassart later claimed that she was not able to help her daughter because of a leg injury and claimed that she needed a wheelchair. However, evidence at trial showed she was able to stand without any help. “Brassart possessed a walking boot and crutches in the home,” prosecutors said. “Video evidence was introduced at trial showing her walking and standing without the use of a wheelchair prior to the drowning.”

Authorities found empty liquor bottles, and the mother's alcohol level at the time of the incident was measured at 0.246 percent, which is over three times the legal limit to drive in California. The father, who was at work, had told Brassart not to consume alcohol when watching the child.

“This is a case where the defendant knew, and she didn’t care,” prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa told the court during the trial. “She didn’t care that her daughter was at risk; she didn’t care that she wasn’t watching her, because all she wanted to do was be selfish and get drunk.”

At the time of the incident, Brassart was on probation for child abuse after another child previously in her care was hospitalized for eating prescription pills. “She not only failed in her duty to care for her child, but she did it in a way that was so reckless and indifferent to human life that her conduct amounted to second-degree murder,” Sousa added in court.

The mother is facing 15 years to life in prison for the crime. She is set to appear for sentencing on Feb. 15.