OC Mom Arrested for Involuntary Manslaughter After 2-Year-Old Drowns in Bathtub

Tragic Drowning Incident

• 💔 A 2-year-old child has died after drowning in a bathtub in Placentia, Orange County.
• 🚨 The child's mother, 40-year-old Melissa Basil, has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse.

Circumstances of the Drowning

• 🛁 Basil told investigators she was giving her son a bath in a plastic storage bin when she left the bathroom for approximately 2 minutes to get soap.
• 😔 Upon returning, she found the child face down and unresponsive in the makeshift tub.
• 🩹 After attempting CPR without success, Basil reportedly harmed herself with a sharp object.

Investigation and Aftermath

• ⏳ Detectives stated that Basil held her son for hours after the incident.
• 📞 The 911 call was made by one of her stepchildren who walked in.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Police believe the incident was due to negligence rather than malice.
• ⚖️ The other children in the household are now with their father at an undisclosed location, receiving support from a chaplain.
• 😔 Neighbors described the family as loving and the child as a great kid who enjoyed playing with his siblings.