Macon police arrest woman suspected of endangering child after 4-year-old dies

UPDATE: According to the probable cause statement, the child died from drowning in the bathtub, after yelling for Hamblen, his mother.

Officers said they interviewed a 6-year-old boy, who was also in the residence at the time of the incident, who said the 4-year-old boy had been left unattended in the bathtub, yelling for his mother for more than 30 minutes.

Officers said Hamblen later admitted to being outside, drinking and smoking marijuana at the time of the incident.

ORIGINAL: Macon Police arrested Ashley Hamblen on suspicions she endangered the welfare of a child after a 4-year-old died at the beginning of September.

Officers said they responded to the 700 block of Bourke Street on Sept. 3 for reports of an unresponsive child who was not breathing.

Officers said they performed CPR on the child until emergency medical services arrived.

Police said the child was flown to Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia, where the 4-year-old later died.

Police said they began an investigation into the incident and were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Hamblen, 31.

Hamblen is currently being held in the Macon County Jail with a $100,000 bond, police said.

Hamblen is being charged with endangering the welfare of a child, felony possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.