CLEVELAND, TX – Authorities in Liberty County are investigating a harrowing incident after a mother allegedly tried to drown her three children in a pond near their family home early Monday morning, as officials work to determine precisely what unfolded and whether the children were also drugged beforehand.
Deputies responded to a 911 emergency call shortly before 6 a.m., where a father reported that his wife had possibly poisoned their children with an over-the-counter cold medicine and then attempted to submerge them in a lake close to their residence. The property, located some 75 to 100 feet from the shoreline, became the site of a desperate rescue as the father intervened.
Authorities identified the children involved as a 15-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old boy. All three, along with their mother, were transported to a local hospital. The mother and the 11-year-old daughter were listed in critical condition, while the other two children were reported to be stable as of Monday afternoon.
Preliminary information from the sheriff’s office indicates the father told dispatchers he managed to pull all three children from the water and was taking steps to distance himself and his children from his wife. According to investigators, the family’s home sits close enough to the water that when the father heard commotion and the children yelling, he was able to respond quickly.
Upon arrival at the scene, deputies discovered the mother unresponsive in the pond, while the 11-year-old girl had lost consciousness but was revived after being pulled from the water by the father. The two other children were also rescued.
Investigators are examining claims that the children might have been given NyQuil prior to the alleged drowning attempt, though officials have not confirmed whether any substances were ingested. The father’s account to emergency services mentioned a belief that the children had been drugged with the cold medication, but evidence of this is still under review.
The sheriff’s office is coordinating with Child Protective Services and hospital social workers as the investigation continues. Officials confirmed that none of the children were enrolled in school at the time of the incident and that the family had resided in their current home since 2017.
Authorities have withheld the identities of the family members as the investigation proceeds and as relatives are informed of the situation. Both parents remain under investigation and are being questioned, with no definitive statements made as to whether the mother will be charged. The father has reportedly been cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Officials have not publicly classified the incident as an attempted murder, emphasizing that the investigation is in its early stages and that more information will be needed before potential criminal charges are determined.
Sheriff’s department representatives described the events as tragic and said that additional details will be released as the investigation unfolds. The well-being of the children remains a central concern as authorities work to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the emergency call.