Baby Left Alone in Bathtub Drowns, Police Say
Baby Left Alone in Bathtub Drowns, Police Say Save Email Print
Posted: 2:07 PM Jul 1, 2008
 Last Updated: 8:33 AM Jul 2, 2008
 Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com
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UPDATE @ 4:29pm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Charleston Police say a 5-month-old baby left unattended in a bathtub for at least 20-25 minutes has died.

According to a news release from Sergeant Aaron James with the Charleston Police Department, the baby's father, Vereen Edward Taylor, 36, found his son, Zachari Taylor, "floating and unresponsive" in the tub.

"He said that he has in the past, and did today place Zachari in the tub with the shower running and the drain open," said James. "He did this to pacify the child while he took care of personal matters."

James said that the drain was apparently not left open Tuesday, causing the bathtub to fill up.

Zachari was taken to Women and Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2pm.

Police have since arrested Taylor and are charging him with child neglect causing death. He will be arraigned in a Kanawha County Courtroom shortly.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.


ORIGINAL STORY @ 2:07pm
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Charleston Police are trying to figure out how an infant nearly drowned in a bathtub on the city's West Side.

It happened at around 1:30 Tuesday afternoon at a home in the 1400 block of Washington Street West.

Police estimate the child, a boy, is about 7-9 months old.

Investigators say the child was left unattended when it nearly drowned.

The child was rushed to CAMC Women and Children's Hospital. No word yet on his condition, but police told us, "they're still working on him."

We have a crew on the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the very latest.

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Posted by: enraged on Jul 4, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Unbelievable, stupid people just keep popping out babies. There needs to be a limit on how many kids people on public assistance can have. Please start making them pay the state, when they have the 3rd kid. Birth control is free. GOOD GRIEF. It is the poor little ones that suffer. The parents take the money and buy cigarettes and booze anyway. I may sound mean, but come on. The poor little baby never had a chance in this world anyway with parents like that. He is better off in Heaven. Poor little fellow
Posted by: discussed on Jul 3, 2008 at 09:37 PM
you know people like this needs to be torture were is the death penalty....what kind of person matters is more important than your child.....HOW CRAZY...THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS ACTION....SORRY
Posted by: Cindy on Jul 3, 2008 at 03:46 PM
This father was obvious low functioning, his family was in the system this sad situation should be on the minds of all the agencies that worked or had contact with this family and did not help them with their parenting skills.
Posted by: Shelly on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:16 AM
You can take the blame if you want, but I have always tried to help people less fortunate than I am. This is HIS fault not OURS. A 36 year old man surely knows better.I am guilt free on this one.
Posted by: Jules on Jul 3, 2008 at 10:49 AM
This man needs to have his head examined leaving a poor baby alone in a bathtub for that long. He deserves to rot in prison.
Posted by: LOVE on Jul 3, 2008 at 10:06 AM
WHERE WAS THE MOTHER? THE FATHER DONT LOOK LIKE HE IS SORRY!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 3, 2008 at 09:07 AM
This is very sad, b/c it was a careless "mistake", & what I mean by that is that this could have been prevented. I wouldn't leave my 2yr old unattended in a bath tub, let alone a 5 month old! And he didn't even check up on him w/in that 20-25 min??? This man should NEVER have been in charge of this baby! At least we know this baby is in heaven!
Posted by: EliMommy on Jul 3, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Education? The only people who need to be educated are the ones who believe he did that accidentally. The guy killed his baby on purpose and deserves the worst he can get. Society didn't fail this loser of a "father", he failed society.
Posted by: GabesMom on Jul 3, 2008 at 12:45 AM
This is so sad the family is in my thoughts and prayers but to the father what the heck was he thinking I have a 19 month old and I wouldn't dream of leaving him in the tub unattended thats just plain STUPID on thats mans part and he needs to be charged and granted he has to live now the rest of his life thinking about what he did to his son!!!!! RIP baby boy !!!!!!!!
Posted by: cosmo on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:19 PM
no excuse, convince me that this is right, and to admit he's done it before. He is one sick A__hole.
Posted by: Wv Hillbilly on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I have read the complaint and am now still upset it did however shed some light on d subject,we know d facts and now that I've read all of it it sounds like nothing more than bad judgement and stupidity, this could've all been averted with a little commomn sense,this guy obviously didnt think he was doing something wrong,I feel so bad 4 this baby but the father will live with this d rest of his life,EDUCATION!!!! thats whats needed no matter who u r parenting classes should become mandatory he sounds ...not so bright he made a mistake that cost a child HIS CHILD its life but it was a mistake, it could've all been avoided with some commomn sense, God ,heavenly father, take control of this one 2 many variables.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:34 PM
why in the word diden thay do something when he said he done this before why on eath would u even put a five mounth old in the bath tub a long that stupid
Posted by: Isaac. on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:29 PM
This is not right,here is a guy who is got a record of being mentally unstable and put this tiny helpless little baby in a shower with water filling up the tub!! Now I don't know about you but the first thing I would do is not put the baby in there at all but if I was that dumb I would have at least made sure the water stop was out!! This guy showed no remorse what so ever and you could tell he had not been crying at all! This is cruel and gross that someone could kill a helpless baby and try to make it look like a mistake!! They better fry this guy, if not I swear I will pay any prisoner where he goes to make him their wife!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Why the shower? My guess is that if he put him in the crib or a playpen, he'd be able to hear if the baby cried. The shower on the other hand, I'm guessing kept the babies cries from being loud. This is just tragic. He wasn't doing ANYTHING he couldn't have his baby with him for. I take my 7 month old outside with me, in view when I make meals, & the same goes when I'm paying the bills. This man was just lazy & didn't want to deal with his baby.
Posted by: Janet on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Guess he won't be worried about when he will be getting sex now will he? I'm sure bubba will be glad to give it to him anytime he wants it, he won't even have to ask for it either. God please forgive me for I know tragic accidents can happen to anyone but please someone explain to me how you can just forget about a baby for 25 mins? What is so sad is we keep hearing more and more about this same situation happening and yet parents keep doing it. A little one drowned in my area not too long ago and the daddy had supposedly left the baby to go outside to make a drug deal and the little baby drowned. He got no time out of it. Only God knows what happened I know that. But I don't know how you live with something like this on your mind. Even if it were a true accident how can you live with yourself knowing you could have prevented it. I just hugged my grandson and I am thankful for not leaving him alone in the tub to answer my phone recently, my sister said she thought I was in bed.
Posted by: mom of 2 on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:14 PM
I am sorry, but to put a 5 month old in the shower and leave him? What teh He-- was this guy thinking? STUPID!!! my heart goes out to the rest of the family! Why isn't he being charged with murder????
Posted by: jill on Jul 2, 2008 at 05:16 PM
jennifer, you are so right !!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 04:29 PM
thanks for posting my comments wsaz. you are great *not*
Posted by: a loving mother on Jul 2, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Read the complaint. It is sickening and shocking.
Posted by: Sue on Jul 2, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Maybe if he had a JOB and not on welfare, then this wouldn't have happened. They were living in another house that was condemned a few months ago, according to the news.
Posted by: ronda on Jul 2, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Just a thought but a 5 month old in a shower? Why does this not make sense to me? Oh, yeah, cause no one with any brains would leave a infant in a shower or even bathe one this way, and it sounds as though he has done this before. Throw him behind bars and leave him there. My prayers go to Heaven's newest angel, you'll be ok now, no one can hurt you now.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Why would you put a 5 month old in the shower to pacify him? That in itself is abuse to begin with? The baby wouldn't even be able to sit up, would he? The guy is a sick O if you ask me and needs some help very badly. My heart goes out to the other family members and for the tiny baby.
Posted by: Virginia on Jul 2, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Anyone with a half a brain knows you NEVER leave a baby alone, not even for half a second! How sad that a 5 month old angel lost his life because of that man's own selfish needs!
Posted by: Jennifer on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:56 PM
This may sound harsh, but some people are too stupid to have children.
Posted by: why is he not being charged with murder on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:10 PM
You all need to read the second page of the criminal complaint that says he was waiting on sex when she returned because it was his birthday. Looks to me like there is a whole lot more to it then the lame excuse of putting the baby in the shower to soothe him. They invented great bouncy seats, play pens, and cribs a long time ago. All three are common sense. My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful, healthy boys that we love with all of our hearts. We are not perfect, but we are not foolish enough to leave our children in the tub alone at the ages of 3 or 4. Why was this child left in the tub alone? Dear God, please cradle this little one in your arms and be with the family. Please God allow this family to heal as best possible for now they have a really long road. Only you father truly knows what happened. Please let me be wrong by believing this man did this on purpose. Only your love will heal now. God bless this family and give them the help the need. Amen
Posted by: Rediculous on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:55 AM
People like that done need to go to jail!.......They need the death penalty for being ignortant!
Posted by: sad in ky on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I cant believe someone would leave thier baby by it self in the tub My kids is teenager and if they stay in the tub for a while I always ask them are they alrite I just dont understand people There are people who would love to have kids and cant have them that would love to have this baby How can parents do this stuff like a couple of months ago a mother in portsmouth ohio left her baby in the tud and it died and they didnt do nothing to her thats a shame lock these parents up and make them take parents class for the rest of thier lives dont let them out of jail make them stay thier and think about thier baby.Protect our babys
Posted by: Nicki on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:09 AM
The shower???????? while running ok am I missing something
Posted by: anon on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:02 AM
people please read the criminal complaint on here and this will answer all your questions you have about what he was doing and where the mother was at the time of this terrible tragedy happened. it was the dad's birthday and mom was going to have sex with him when she returned from the store. dad claims he was feeding the daughter in the kitchen and counting money to pay bills and then went outside to see if mom was back yet. guess he was anxiously awaiting her return and forgot about the baby. wonder what they were going to do with the children while they had sex. accidents do happen please don't get me wrong but i am very upset about this baby being left alone for 25 minutes before being checked on.
Posted by: carol on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:41 AM
CHILD NEGLECT IS NOT A STRONG ENOUGH CHARGE FOR THIS TRAGEDY!!!!!!!!!!MURDER!!!!!IS MORE LIKE IT.ANYONE THAT HAS ANY MATERNAL INSTINCTS KNOWS YOU DO NOT LEAVE A BABY ALONE NO MATTER WHERE THE BABY IS(ESPECIALLY AT 5 MONTHS OLD).MY PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY AND FOR THIS DAD WHO HAS TO LEAVE WITH THIS TRAGEDY WHILE HE TAKES CARE OF "PERSONAL MATTERS".
Posted by: anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I am a mother of three I never leave my children in the bathroom at all. Not to pay bills or answer the phone. I feel sorry for the mother and the other child but the father should of knew better.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:24 AM
i just read the article in the gazette. it says that he went downstairs to feed his daughter and check his finances. he then went outside to see if his fiance was home from the store, because it was his birthday and he was expecting sex !! those were his comments to the police. what an idiot !! the article says that the baby was left in the bathtub over 25 minutes and this guy has been doing this since he was 4 months old. he claimed the baby "like it".
Posted by: Shelly on Jul 2, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Folks, let's look at this from a logical point. Yes the father did something many of us could not imagine doing. But, he obviously wasn't aware that there was something wrong with what he was doing...unless there is something far more sinister...which I doubt...so the question here is where did we all fail...we are all responsibile..society allows people to slip through the cracks and then we sit back in our high places and wonder what is wrong with our world...now...what can we do to prevent this from happening to another child?
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 07:50 AM
the baby is a little angel now and all kids are angels
Posted by: carl on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:43 AM
on exusses!!!!!
Posted by: joe on Jul 1, 2008 at 11:49 PM
this sickens me deeply,my heart goes out for this poor child,i just hope that this poor father gets what he deserves and no jury sees this as an acident,it just shows the cruel and unheartly people in this world,i have a 18 month old son and i look at him and then see this,i just pray that he gets his either in jail or life in jail!!!!!!!!
Posted by: would love to know on Jul 1, 2008 at 11:43 PM
what personal matter was he taking care of? 20 minutes??several times before the baby was 5 months old! what age did he start putting him in a shower? that is crazy!
Posted by: i know what you will say on Jul 1, 2008 at 11:22 PM
How freakin foolish! I am sorry but that lame excuse of a story that is posted as to how this happened is absurd. This man ovbiously knew the ramifications of what he was doing... Why would anyone leave a five month old in the tub? Why would the shower be on? I have never given any of my four boys a shower at 2 years let alone 5 mos. this is another sensless death of a poor defensless child who deserved better. What ever happened to bouncy seats and play pens? Hell, I am sure the baby could have been put in his crib... Go ahead and tell me I should feel sorry for this idiot. I don't. I feel sorry for that baby and all of the people who loved him. Tell me how i shouldn't judge, fine I shouldn't... I will let God handle this one. This makes me furious. If anyone else is so stupid that they can't take care of their child or don't want to, please let someone else take care of him or her.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 at 10:53 PM
He didn't look too upset on the news! Anyone with half of a brain knows you can't leave a baby unattended for 20 min.
Posted by: Regina on Jul 1, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Dear God......drowning has to be almost everyone's worst fear...I know it is mine. I can't even fathom that blessed little angel suffering that kind of terror. Please wake up people!! We as adults can fend for ourselves..but our babies..our children depend on US to protect them..My son is 4!! & I never leave him unattended for any length of time..I am constantly peeking & listening...ANYTHING can happen!! Don't leave a child alone while it is eating either...one could be taking care of "personal matters" in another room while their baby is helplessly choking to death ALONE...God entrusts us with these little angels of his...please don't disappoint him by neglecting such a GIFT!! God Bless that poor baby...His is cradled in much safer arms now....so sad....
Posted by: Bonnie on Jul 1, 2008 at 10:17 PM
This really saddens me. There is definetly something wrong with out justice system. They have foster parents who love the children in their care, get attached to them and after 2 years the biological family, who have been arrested for meth and other drugs, decides they want their kid back, and then the foster parents have to give them back. That is just BS to me. They don't want the boy, they just want the check and food stamps! The judge don't even want to hear anything the foster parents and the social workers have to say. I just wonder what it will take for the system wakes up and leave these children where they are loved and taken care of? The foster parents could lose this child in court this week, I hope and pray that the judge really stops and listens and evaluates this situation and lets this couple keep this loving little boy. He deserves a life of love and caring parents.
Posted by: Ky on Jul 1, 2008 at 09:16 PM
I'm sorry but there is no way someone can make an excuse for this happening. I feel so bad for the kid who died, he was so young only five months. Prayers to him and his family who cared about him. He is surely in heaven now, Jesus will take care of him.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:41 PM
There is no excuse for this. Nothing is that important that you leave your baby alone in the water for any amount of time. He should have to live with this for the rest of his life. It just seems like every day you hear of someone's child dying b/c of something stupid. Do people not care about their kids any more?
Posted by: c on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:34 PM
judge not least you be judge
Posted by: Sandy on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:11 PM
What happened to the good old "Rocking Chair" to pacify a fussy baby? Or holding them patting them on the back walking with them. I'm the mother of 2 and the grandmother of 7 and I have done plenty of pacifing and that did not include putting them somewhere and leaving them to pacify themselves. I'm with the rest, what personal matter could have been so important that you would leave your 5 month old in a tub/shower. Even if you have to use the bathroom or anything else you should ensure that your child/children is secure in a crib/playpen or even in the bathroom with you. Still my heart goes out to the entire family of the baby including the father. May God be with you all. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Posted by: Bev on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:07 PM
This man is 36 years old and he doesn't know that you can't leave a baby in a tub unattended. I haven't ever heard of putting a baby in a shower either. That sounds like some kind of water torture or something.
Posted by: Rhonda on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Even though the father did something stupid, my heart still goes out to him. For the rest of his life he will have to live with the fact that he is responsible for the death of his child. I hope this story is a wake-up call to other parents who think that leaving a child unattended in water is ok. Please parents, watch over your children. Don't take anything for granted. God bless you all.
Posted by: Bill on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:04 PM
What a moron. Now he'll have plenty of time in prison to take care of "personal matters". This little baby is gone because of complete neglect and this guy's stupidity.
Posted by: SORROWED IN OHIO on Jul 1, 2008 at 06:48 PM
FIVE MONTHS OLD!!!!!!!!!!! THAT CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE FOR 20 SECONDS MUCH LESS 2O MINUTES.
Posted by: You've Got to be Kidding Me on Jul 1, 2008 at 06:32 PM
So tragic and sad. At the same time I can't believe that a parent would do knowingly do this. Accidents do happen, I know, but if the baby was only five months old and the dad had done this before, this was a tragedy waiting to happen. God bless the little one.
Posted by: jill on Jul 1, 2008 at 06:20 PM
this man obviously is not well educated. maybe he can be educated in prison. where was the mother? God bless this child.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:54 PM
How can you justify this by saying you have done it several times in the past to pacify the baby. You don't leave a 5 month old baby in the bath tub OR shower alone. I cant't believe he even admitted that to the police. What kind of personal matter (without stating the obvious) could your 5 month old son not be there for. God bless this family and the little angel he now has.
Posted by: Jen on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:47 PM
What has this world come to? Between the news, internet and the growing outlets for education. Why do some people still do this kinda thing? COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!!! What personal matters are SO important? I'll never understand...This poor little baby...
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Pathetic. So sad that this baby was neglected for however long before this incident happened...yes, neglected. Anyone who leave a baby alone in a shower is neglecting their child. Sorry, but "personal matters" don't override your childs safety. Most 5 month olds can't even sit up on their own without support. Then for the poor baby to drown. Just heartbreaking.
Posted by: Wv Hillbilly on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:21 PM
I know accidents happen and u cant watch a kid 24/7 but 20min?!!!!!!!!!! there is no excuse 4 THIS! other than if he were dying or something! "personal matters"!!!!!! what could b so important as 2 leave a baby alone that long? and what were these "personal matters" I would never leave my kid alone n a bth 4 that long I dont think I would ever leave him/her alone period n that situation.PLEASE EVERY1 WATCH UR KIDS,this story breaks my heart. Where was d mom?
Posted by: Michelle on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:18 PM
You can't I mean can't EVER leave babies or young children unattended around water! EVER! Not even for a quick second! Not to answer the phone, or answer the door, or anything ever! I'm sorry for the families loss, but he should have known better than to leave a babie in the tub with the shower running to do errands or whatever he was doing! Poor little baby! He's in heaven now....
Posted by: wvmom on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:17 PM
So tragic. My heart goes out to the family. I used to teach parenting classes. You would not believe how many people really don't know what is safe and what isn't! I'm not saying that ignorance is an excuse. But I sure wish parents would educatate themselves before having children so these kinds of tragedies don't happen.
Posted by: Angie on Jul 1, 2008 at 04:29 PM
This is a perfect example of why you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a baby alone in the bathtub!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Proud Mother of 2 on Jul 1, 2008 at 04:22 PM
you know, you hear about this every so often, i have 2 children of my own and NEVER imagine leaving them unattended in the bathtub regardless of anything, i mean this is just a baby...pray for this baby boy that he is O.K. and pray that God will give him a family that loves & cares about him enough to watch over him through his childhood life
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