HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A 30-year-old Harris County mother has been arrested and charged in connection with the drowning death of her infant daughter after allegedly leaving the child unattended in a bathtub.
Leah Rebekah Hernandez, born January 14, 1995, was taken into custody and charged with Injury to a Child – Reckless, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and newly filed court documents.
The charge stems from an incident that occurred on August 24, 2024, at Hernandez’s home in the 7500 block of Welsh Stone Lane. Deputies responded to a call regarding a child who had drowned. The 11-month-old girl, identified as A.H. in court documents, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital and pronounced deceased at 7:40 p.m.
Court records state that Hernandez told investigators she was overwhelmed caring for five children alone and stepped away from the bathroom after placing her daughter in the tub with the water running. She claimed she returned several minutes later to find the water still running and the child submerged. She began CPR in her yard while on the phone with 911.
During an interview with Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Hernandez stated she was dealing with stress from working three jobs and raising her children after separating from her husband. She also recalled a prior incident in June 2024 where the same child was briefly submerged in water while bathing with siblings and was evaluated by EMS but found to be okay.
Detectives also interviewed a close friend who said Hernandez asked her to lie to police about who was home with the children that day. The friend said Hernandez was concerned about being in trouble for leaving underage children unattended. According to the friend, Hernandez admitted she instructed her older children on what to say to investigators.
An autopsy performed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the cause of death as drowning and listed the manner of death as undetermined.
The criminal complaint alleges that Hernandez, while having a statutory duty to act as a parent under Section 151.001 of the Texas Family Code, caused serious bodily injury to her child by recklessly failing to provide adequate supervision.
She is being charged in Harris County District Court. Bail has not yet been set.
This is a developing story and more information will follow if it becomes available.
