A California mother has been found guilty of second-degree murder after her two-year-old daughter drowned in a swimming pool while she was drunk and messaging men on dating apps. Kelle Anne Brassart, 45, was convicted by a jury in Stanislaus County and faces 15 years to life in prison.
On September 12, police were called to the family home in Turlock after Brassart reported her daughter, Daniellé Pires, floating in the backyard pool. Officers pulled the child's lifeless body from the water and attempted resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Brassart was seen to be displaying signs of impairment and remained in the home after calling for help.
Surveillance footage showed the toddler left unattended in the backyard for an extended period while Brassart spent around 45 minutes in her bedroom messaging men on dating apps. Brassart claimed she could not reach her daughter because of a leg injury and used a wheelchair, but video evidence showed her walking and standing unaided before the drowning. Empty alcohol bottles were found throughout the home, and a blood alcohol test measured 0.246 per cent – more than three times California's legal driving limit.
The child's father, Daniel Pires, had allegedly asked Brassart not to drink while caring for their daughter, and court records show she had been ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Jurors also heard she had previously been given advice in parenting classes about the dangers of leaving toddlers unsupervised. Prosecutor Sara Sousa said Brassart 'knew, and she didn't care' and described her conduct as 'so reckless and indifferent to human life' that it amounted to second-degree murder.
District Attorney Jeff Laugero said investigators found that Brassart 'never attempted to rescue Daniellé' after calling for help. Brassart now awaits sentencing, with a potential life term. The verdict brings to an end a case that highlighted the devastating consequences of negligence and alcohol abuse in childcare.
