DHS investigating tub drowning of 11-month-old foster child

0 Comments | Philadelphia Daily News, September, 2007 | by DAMON C. WILLIAMS williadc@phillynews.com 215-854-5924

The city and police are trying to find out why an 11-month-old child drowned in a bathtub in the baby's foster home in Olney on Monday.

"We're still investigating this, and we're getting information from the police as well," said Alicia Taylor, spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services.

"We are interviewing the children in the home and the foster mother in the home. We are deep into the investigation stage."

DHS, citing privacy laws, would not identify the foster parent, the deceased infant or two other children - ages 11 and 12 - who lived in the house on Ashdale Street near 4th.

"The 11-month-old was left in the tub; another child became distracted and left the room," said Sgt. Francis Erickson of the Special Victims Unit. "The water continued...