Whew, chile! This story out of California is a heavy one. A Turlock mother has been convicted of murder after her 2-year-old daughter tragically drowned in a backyard pool – a preventable tragedy, prosecutors say.
Kelle Anne Brassart, 45, was found guilty this week of second-degree murder and felony child endangerment in the death of her daughter, Daniellé Pires. The ruling came after evidence showed Kelle Anne Brassart was allegedly intoxicated and glued to dating apps instead of watching her precious child. Just unthinkable.
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According to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, this heartbreaking incident happened on September 12th. Brassart made a 911 call around 3:30 p.m., telling dispatchers her daughter was unresponsive and floating in the pool. First responders quickly arrived, pulling the toddler from the water. They fought to save her, but tragically, it was too late.
But security footage later revealed a truly painful truth. Prosecutors stated Daniellé was left unsupervised outside for a considerable amount of time before she fell into the pool. This footage immediately launched an investigation.
What’s even more infuriating? Investigators revealed that Brassart allegedly didn’t even try to save her own child! District Attorney Jeff Laugero confirmed that after making the 911 call, Brassart “remained in the home and never attempted to rescue Daniellé.” To add insult to injury, prosecutors shared that for a shocking 45 minutes, Brassart was allegedly preoccupied with her phone, chatting with men on dating apps while her daughter was completely alone.
So, what was Brassart’s excuse?
She claimed a leg injury prevented her from reaching the pool and that she needed a wheelchair, according to Laugero. However, evidence presented in court painted a very different picture.
Laugero stated, “Brassart possessed a walking boot and crutches in the home.” Even more damning, video evidence shown at trial clearly showed her walking and standing without a wheelchair just days before the drowning.
Yes, that footage even captured her driving and heading to nail appointments — all before her daughter tragically passed away.
And if you thought it couldn’t get any worse, police on the scene immediately noticed signs that Brassart was intoxicated. Empty liquor bottles were discovered inside the home, and a blood test later revealed her blood alcohol level was a staggering 0.246% — more than three times California’s legal driving limit.
So where was her father?
Court records also brought to light even more troubling details. The child’s father, Daniel Pires, was at work during this time, but he had reportedly made it clear to Brassart not to drink while caring for their daughter. Not only that, but Brassart had already been ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, suggesting a known issue with alcohol.
To truly underscore the gravity of the situation, prosecutors revealed that Brassart was already on probation for child abuse when this drowning occurred. In a separate, earlier incident, another child in her care had been hospitalized for almost a week after ingesting medication. This isn’t her first time.
Brassart is set for sentencing on February 5th. And rightfully so, she now faces a prison sentence of 15 years to life for this unimaginable tragedy.
