An Indiana mother is facing a serious felony charge after police say she passed out beside a backyard swimming pool while her 3-year-old son drowned just feet away.
Amie Jo Farber, 41, was arrested Saturday night in Evansville and booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent causing death, according to jail records and local reports.
The horrifying incident unfolded Saturday afternoon at a home in the 1200 block of North Second Avenue.
According to a probable cause affidavit cited by WFIE and Law&Crime, Farber arrived at the home around 2:30 p.m. with her son and asked the homeowner if the boy could swim in the backyard pool.
The homeowner reportedly agreed but told Farber she needed to keep an eye on the child. Investigators said the man knew Farber had a drinking problem and believed she already appeared intoxicated when she arrived.
The little boy was reportedly playing in the pool on a float while Farber sat nearby.
The homeowner told police he went inside for roughly 10 minutes. When he returned, he allegedly found Farber passed out in a patio chair and noticed the child was no longer on the float.
The float had overturned.
Moments later, the homeowner spotted the 3-year-old floating face down in the water, according to investigators.
He pulled the boy from the pool and immediately began CPR while someone called 911. During the emergency call, police said a woman could be heard saying that Farber was “passed out drunk.”
Evansville police responded shortly before 5 p.m. and continued lifesaving efforts before paramedics rushed the boy to a local hospital.
He was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not publicly released his name.
Investigators allege Farber consumed approximately five 25-ounce cans of beer during the roughly two hours she was at the home.
Police said the first officer arriving at the scene saw Farber near trash cans and several empty beer cans nearby. Officers also reported that she showed signs of impairment.
At the hospital, Farber allegedly told investigators she had briefly gotten into the pool before climbing out and lying down in a patio chair.
She reportedly said she “must have fallen asleep” and did not know how long she had been unconscious.
Police also said she made a devastating statement to officers: “This is all my fault.”
Investigators obtained a warrant to draw Farber’s blood for alcohol and drug testing. Results had not been publicly released as of Monday.
Farber’s preliminary charge is particularly serious under Indiana law. Neglect of a dependent resulting in the death of a child younger than 14 can be prosecuted as a Level 1 felony. A Level 1 felony carries a sentencing range of 20 to 40 years in prison, with an advisory sentence of 30 years, if a defendant is convicted.
Local reporting initially listed varying information about Farber’s bond status, but WFIE reported Sunday that she was being held without bond. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office confirms she was booked into jail on the night of Sept. 19.
Way to go farber!! You are a real modern Amerikan mother!!!