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Katlyn Pineda, of Queens, was found unresponsive in the Marriott Melville pool on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. She remained in a coma until she died from her injuries on Monday, May 1, according to Suffolk County Police.
Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives, Pineda’s mother, Erica Baez, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter on Monday, May 15, in Manhattan.
According to the Suffolk County DA’s Office, Baez was staying at the hotel with her boyfriend, along with her 5-month-old son and her daughter Katlyn.
On the day of the incident, Baez reportedly asked hotel staff to open the pool gate for the indoor atrium pool.
Employees warned her that she needed to watch the girl as there was no lifeguard on duty.
Despite that warning, Baez left Katlyn playing in the pool alone while she sat at the hotel bar eating and drinking an alcoholic cocktail, prosecutors allege.
She reportedly checked on the girl a half hour later and saw that she was still unsupervised, and left her alone for a second time.
Baez then went upstairs and checked on her infant son, who was also unsupervised, according to prosecutors.
Another 30 minutes went by - during which time prosecutors allege she had a second alcoholic drink - before Baez returned to the pool, where she found her daughter floating lifeless in the water.
Before jumping in to rescue the girl, prosecutors said she removed her shoes and socks, and set aside her cell phone before finally grabbing the child.
Medics found Katlyn without a pulse and in cardiac arrest.
She spent nearly two months in the Pediatric ICU at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital before being transferred to a long-term care facility in New Jersey, where she remained in a coma until her death.
“The heroic efforts of the Melville Fire Department paramedic and the EMT successfully restarted Katlyn’s heart, however the damage to her brain from the lack of oxygen was irreversible, and she remained dependent on a ventilator and feeding tube,” the Suffolk County DA’s Office said in a statement.
According to investigators, Baez told first responders that Katlyn had only been alone for five minutes.
“The alleged actions of this defendant were selfish, senseless and heartless,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said. “We are going to do everything we can to ensure that justice is served for little Katlyn, whose short life ended too soon.”
Baez was arraigned in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, May 16, on one count of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
A judge ordered her held without bail. She is scheduled to appear back in court on Wednesday, May 24.
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