Bronx mom arrested for manslaughter after daughter, 7, drowned in pool while she drank

A Bronx mother-of-two has been arrested for manslaughter in the alleged death of her seven-year-old daughter who drowned in the hotel swimming pool as she was drinking at the hotel  bar.

Erica Baez, 41, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The horrific incident took place at the Marriott hotel located in Melville, Long Island on January 13, 2022.

Baez's young daughter named Katlyn was on life support for the last year but, died on May 1st after she became septic, a report said.

Baez pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday. 

Prosecutors said she left her other child, a 5-month-old, alone in the room as she hit the hotel bar.  

The indoor swimming pool at the Long Island Marriott hotel where Erica Baez's seven-year-old daughter drowned on January 13, 2022

The Marriott located in Melville, Long Island is where the January 13, 2022 tragedy took place

District Attorney Raymond Tierney called Baez's alleged actions 'selfish, senseless and heartless,' in a statement.  'We are going to do everything we can to ensure that justice is served for little Katlyn, whose short life ended too soon,' he said.

Baez is due back in court on May 24.

Baez had been a guest at the hotel with her boyfriend, her infant son and Katlyn. At the time of the tragedy her boyfriend has been at work, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

Around 3:30pm, Baez had asked the hotel staff to open the indoor pool despite the hotel employees informing her that there was no lifeguard on duty, The New York Post reported. 

They also told her if her daughter wants to go into the pool she would have to stay with her.

Prosecutors claimed that Baez headed to the bar for food and drink and was there for at least 30 minutes while her daughter played alone in the pool area by herself.   

Baez then made her rounds. First, checking on her daughter and then went up to the hotel room to check on her infant son who was also alone, the DA's office claimed. 

She returned to the bar for a second cocktail, leaving the daughter again for more than 30 minutes, but this time when she went to check on her daughter for a second time she was found 'floating lifeless,' the office alleged.  

Baez went for a second cocktail and left the daughter for over 30 minutes before returning to the pool to find the girl 'floating lifeless in the pool' the office alleged.