SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A Texas family is mourning the loss of a 2-year-old boy who died days after being found unresponsive in a community swimming pool, while authorities review whether criminal charges should be filed in connection with the incident.
Malachi LeBlanc was attending a playdate in the Indian Springs subdivision when he nearly drowned in a community pool, according to reports.
The toddler was being supervised by a trusted adult who was also caring for several other children at the time. Malachi’s parents, Grace and Myron LeBlanc, were not at the pool when their son was found unresponsive.
First responders performed CPR at the scene before taking the child to North Central Baptist Hospital. Doctors later determined that Malachi was brain dead and unable to breathe independently.
He died on Aug. 9, four days after the pool incident.
Sheriff’s Office Sends Case to District Attorney
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation and submitted the case to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, according to local reports.
The district attorney will now review the evidence and determine whether any charges are appropriate.
As of Aug. 28, no charges had been filed.
Authorities have not publicly identified the adult they believe was responsible for supervising Malachi, nor have officials disclosed what specific offense investigators may be considering.
That uncertainty has created a difficult situation for Malachi’s family, particularly because his mother says she does not believe the person responsible for watching him should face criminal prosecution.
Mother Says She Believes It Was an Accident
Malachi’s mother, Grace LeBlanc, has declined to identify the supervising adult, saying she wants to protect that person’s privacy.
She told that she had “complete faith” in the adult to care for her children and “wholeheartedly believes” that what happened was an accident.
Grace also said she strongly opposes criminal charges and was unaware that the sheriff’s office intended to pursue the case until the newspaper contacted her.
Her position differs from the direction of the investigation, which has now been forwarded to prosecutors for review. For Grace, however, the tragedy remains centered on the loss of her youngest child.
Family Says Malachi Loved the Water
Grace said her family regularly went swimming together, and Malachi particularly loved being around water.
She recalled that the toddler would often try to enter the water without his floaties because he appeared convinced that he could swim.
“I’m convinced that he thought he could swim because he would try to get in the water all the time without his floaties,” she said.
Malachi was the youngest of four children, and his family described him as a joyful child who brought happiness to those around him.
His parents were eventually faced with another heartbreaking decision after doctors determined that he could not recover.
Toddler Becomes Organ Donor for Three Children
After Malachi was declared brain dead, the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance approached his parents about organ donation.
Grace said she initially struggled with the idea, but Myron helped her see the possibility of giving other children a second chance.
“If God wasn’t going to give us the miracle that we’re praying for, then this can be a miracle for other children,” Myron told her, according to Grace.
Doctors ultimately retrieved Malachi’s heart, kidneys and liver, which were donated to three children in Texas awaiting transplants.
He was only the second pediatric organ donor at North Central Baptist Hospital.
Hospital nurses also placed Malachi’s handprint on a ceiling tile above their workstation alongside the handprint of the hospital’s first pediatric donor.
Family Wants Malachi Remembered for His Joy
Despite the circumstances surrounding his death, Grace wants people to remember her son for the happiness he brought to others. She described Malachi as a loving child who had a way of making people feel special.
“He always knew how to make you feel beautiful,” she said.
She also remembered how often he said “I love you” and emphasized that he meant it whenever he said it.
His organ donations have given three other children a chance at life, adding another painful but meaningful chapter to his family’s story.
Meanwhile, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether the evidence supports criminal charges.
A GoFundMe has also been created to help Malachi’s family with medical expenses and other costs connected to his hospitalization and death.
For his parents, the legal questions remain secondary to the loss of their son and the memories they will carry forward.
What do you think about the mother’s decision to oppose criminal charges in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments.