Brooklyn woman charged in alleged drowning of her daughter during 'baptism'

A woman has been charged with felony assault and reckless endangerment following the death of her six-year old daughter in New York’s Brooklyn.

26-year-old Karla Espinal told authorities that the incident occurred when she was baptising her daughter Madelyn Tavarez. The child was found unresponsive in a bathtub.

However, investigators believe that the child may have been held underwater for up to 20 minutes, as signs of a struggle such as blood clots in her eyes were discovered.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene but were unable to save Madelyn, who was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The girl’s father, who was not at home at the time of the incident, wrote a heartbroken message to his employer after learning of his daughter’s death.

Meanwhile, the neighbors described the family as loving but recalled hearing a scream from the residence around 4:30 AM on the day of the incident. Helen Cunningham, a neighbor, witnessed police handcuffing Espinal as paramedics carried the child on a stretcher.

The history of the family is currently being looked at by authorities. Espinal is presently under suicide watch and has pleaded not guilty in court. According to the prosecution, an autopsy is still pending, and the results could lead to further accusations. Her next court appearance is scheduled for February 14.