Pa. mother heads to court after 5-month-old drowns in hotel spa tub, DA says
By Rachael Lardani
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INTERCOURSE, Pa. (WGAL) — A Philadelphia woman charged in connection with the drowning death of her 5-month-old daughter at a Lancaster County hotel will proceed to court, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said Diontee Beckett, 25, waived her preliminary hearing on Aug. 26 on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.
Diontee was released after posting $100,000 bail, according to police.
Infant placed in hotel spa tub, DA says According to the district attorney’s office, Diontee is accused of recklessly causing the death of her daughter, A’zara Beckett, after placing her in a spa tub while intoxicated on the evening of May 11.
It happened at the Best Western Plus Intercourse Village Inn & Suites on East Newport Road in Leacock Township.
The coroner ruled A’zara’s cause of death to be freshwater drowning.
Authorities noted that surveillance footage from inside the hotel showed Diontee entering the lobby, carrying the infant, who appeared “lifeless in her arms.” Several hotel guests called 911 and attempted life-saving measures before responders arrived.
Mother was intoxicated during the incident, DA says During an interview with investigators, Diontee said she consumed alcohol throughout the day and had taken her swimming earlier that afternoon before returning to their room, according to police.
Investigators said Diontee denied placing A’zara in the tub; however, police found a photo and video on Diontee’s phone of her daughter in the tub. Diontee told police that she did not remember taking A’zara into the tub, according to the district attorney.
Investigators said a chemical breath test indicated that Diontee had a blood alcohol content of 0.149% at the time.
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