Court documents: Babysitter was drunk when toddler drowned in Phelps County
ROLLA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Rolla woman was charged earlier this week after a toddler drowned.
Emily Kate Buell, 33, was charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and abused or neglect of a child resulting in death. She is being held at the Phelps County Jail on a $100,000 bond. A confined docket hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Phelps County Courthouse.
Buell was allegedly looking after a 2-year-old boy as a babysitter. Court documents state Buell was drunk Sunday night and consumed more alcohol Monday morning.
She allegedly sent children downstairs at a residence -- in the 11000 block of Cedar Grove Lane – while she went upstairs to drink alcohol with other adults and “engage in other activities,” according to the probable cause statement.
The toddler was able to leave the residence through an unsecured door leading to a deck, which led to a covered swimming pool. The toddler fell into the pool – which had at least 12 inches of water – and drowned, according to the probable cause statement.
Buell allegedly told a detective that she was drunk Sunday evening and consumed more alcohol on Monday morning. She consented to a portable breath test and her blood-alcohol content was .097.
