A Texas woman will likely spend the rest of her life behind bars after a jury found her guilty in the bathtub drowning deaths of 1-year-old twins she had been hired to care for.
Joan Reyes de Jesus was sentenced to two life terms in prison after being convicted on two counts of murder. According to reports, she will not be eligible for parole for 35 years.
The heartbreaking case dates back to Oct. 16, 2024, at a home on Humble Road in Odessa, Texas. Police said de Jesus had been specifically hired by the twins’ mother to care for the children.
But prosecutors said that instead of watching them, de Jesus put the babies in a bathtub, turned on the water, then walked away to watch television.
At some point, she allegedly fell asleep.
Investigators said at least 30 minutes or more may have passed before family members realized the twins were still in the tub.
By the time help arrived, it was too late.
Officers and emergency crews rushed to the home after someone called 911, but they found the babies suffering from an apparent drowning. The twins were taken to a nearby hospital, where both were pronounced dead.
During the trial, officers testified that when the babies were found, de Jesus appeared stoic and emotionless and did not try to help them.
She later told investigators that she had placed the twins in running water like she often did and claimed she did not plug the drain. But according to her account, a scrunchie had blocked the drain and allowed the water to rise.
The case also exposed a chaotic situation inside the home. Reports said the twins’ mother admitted she had hired de Jesus to watch the children while she slept during the day, but also said de Jesus cared for them about 90 percent of the time while she worked, sold drugs, or partied. The mother was later charged with manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance.
Prosecutors kept their argument simple and devastating.
They told jurors the facts were clear: the babies were placed in a bathtub, left unattended, and could not save themselves.
“We know they were left in the bathtub unattended… water running… they couldn’t walk,” prosecutors said, according to local reports. “They couldn’t even cry out for help.”