PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A 25-year-old mother is facing serious criminal charges after her five-month-old daughter drowned in a hotel spa tub, with prosecutors alleging the mother was intoxicated when she placed the infant in the water.
Diontae Nicole Beckett waived her preliminary hearing before Judge Raymond Sheller on Aug. 26, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Beckett is charged with endangering the welfare of children and involuntary manslaughter in connection with her daughter’s death.
Prosecutors allege that Beckett “recklessly” caused the child’s death after drunkenly placing her in a spa tub at a hotel where the mother and daughter were staying.
The case took a tragic turn when hotel guests reportedly encountered Beckett carrying the infant into the lobby.
Prosecutors Say Mom Had Been Drinking
According to the district attorney’s office, Beckett told police that she had been consuming alcohol throughout the day when her daughter died.
She also reportedly told investigators that she and her daughter had gone swimming earlier that afternoon before returning to their hotel bedroom.
Authorities later found evidence on Beckett’s phone that raised additional questions about what happened inside the hotel.
Police discovered a photograph and video showing the baby in a spa tub on the phone, according to prosecutors. However, Beckett allegedly told police she was not aware that she had taken her daughter into the spa tub.
She also allegedly denied ever placing the child in the spa tub. Those statements are now part of the evidence prosecutors are using in the criminal case.
Surveillance Footage Shows Mother Carrying Baby
Hotel surveillance footage allegedly provided another important piece of evidence. According to the district attorney’s office, the footage showed Beckett entering the hotel lobby while carrying her daughter.
The baby appeared “lifeless in her arms,” prosecutors said.
Several hotel guests reportedly immediately recognized that something was seriously wrong. They called 911 and attempted life-saving measures on the child before first responders arrived.
The actions of those hotel guests came as emergency personnel were being summoned to the scene. Despite the efforts to save the infant, the five-month-old girl died.
The circumstances surrounding the moments before Beckett entered the lobby remain central to the prosecution’s case.
Breath Test Allegedly Shows 0.149% BAC
Prosecutors also allege that Beckett’s level of intoxication was significant.
A chemical test of her breath allegedly showed a blood alcohol content of 0.149%, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
That allegation is a key part of the prosecution’s claim that Beckett’s conduct was reckless and contributed to her daughter’s death.
Deputy Allegedly Dragged 5-Year-Old Son by Ear After Breakfast Dispute, Prosecutors Say
The charges accuse Beckett of endangering the welfare of her child as well as involuntary manslaughter. Beckett has not been convicted of the allegations, and the charges will be addressed through the court process.
Mom Released on Bail as Court Case Continues
Following her arrest, Beckett was released after posting $100,000 bail, according to the information provided by prosecutors. Online court records indicate that she is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 25.
The upcoming court appearance will be another step in the case as prosecutors and the defense proceed with the legal process.
Authorities have not indicated that the investigation is over, and additional evidence could emerge as the case moves forward.
The death of the five-month-old has left a tragic set of unanswered questions about what happened inside the hotel and how the infant ended up in the spa tub. For now, Beckett remains accused—not convicted—of the charges against her.
What do you think about the allegations in this tragic case? Share your thoughts in the comments below.