A mother from California has been convicted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter by drowning her in their swimming pool while she was intoxicated and engaged in conversations with men she had met on a dating app.
Kelle Ann Broussard, 45, was found guilty on Tuesday of second-degree murder and felony child endangerment related to the drowning of her daughter, Danielle Pires, at their home in Turlock. This was confirmed in a statement from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors revealed that Broussard called 911 around 3:30 p.m. on September 12, reporting her daughter was floating in the pool and wasn’t responding.
Emergency responders retrieved the child from the pool and attempted to revive her but were unsuccessful.
Later, surveillance footage indicated that the 2-year-old had been left outside for a long time before falling into the pool, prompting a thorough investigation by authorities.
District Attorney Jeff Laugero indicated that after Broussard sought help, she “remained in the home and did not attempt to rescue Danielle.”
Prosecutors detailed how Broussard spent approximately 45 minutes on the phone with men from the dating app while her daughter was unattended.
During the trial, Broussard claimed she couldn’t reach her daughter due to a leg injury that required her to use a wheelchair. However, evidence showed that she was capable of walking and standing without assistance, including video footage of her driving and attending a nail appointment prior to the incident.
“Broussard had a walking boot and crutches inside the house,” Laugero noted, as video evidence showed her mobility just before the drowning.
Police also noted signs of drunkenness at the scene, and an empty liquor bottle was discovered in the home. A blood alcohol test later revealed Broussard’s level to be 0.246%, significantly above California’s legal driving limit.
On the day of the incident, the child’s father, Daniel Pires, who was at work, had allegedly warned Broussard against drinking while taking care of their child.
Court documents indicated that Broussard had been mandated to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Deputy District Attorney Sara Souza stated during the trial, “This is a case that the defendant knew about but didn’t care about. She didn’t care that her daughter was in danger… all she wanted to do was be selfish and get drunk.”
Additionally, it was reported that Broussard was on probation for child abuse at the time of the drowning, and another child previously in her care had suffered a drug-related incident that required hospitalization.
After the conviction, Souza accused Broussard of failing in her “duty to care for the child,” asserting that her negligence and recklessness amounted to second-degree murder.
Broussard is set to be sentenced on February 5 and may face 15 years in prison.
