A family holiday in Florida ended in tragedy after an 18-month-old girl drowned when her father fell asleep while holding her in a hot tub.
Father fell asleep for 20 minutes
Azariah Hough, described by her family as a "real talker", was fatally submerged in the hot tub at an Airbnb property on 13 December. Her father, Reynard Tyrone Hough, 33, had travelled from Washington DC with his family to the Florida rental.
According to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Hough entered the hot tub with his young daughter in his arms. He then fell asleep for a period estimated to be between 15 and 20 minutes. Upon waking, he discovered Azariah was unresponsive.
Substances contributed to negligence
Police reports state that Hough admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the incident. He also told detectives he had taken two different narcotics before getting into the hot tub with Azariah.
Investigators argue that these substances contributed to him falling asleep and that the child's death was a direct result of negligence. Hough attempted CPR on his daughter while her mother called emergency services.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, little Azariah was pronounced dead at approximately 4:30 am on the morning of 13 December.
Charges filed and a family devastated
Reynard Hough has been arrested and is currently being held in the Osceola County Jail. He faces serious charges including child neglect with great bodily harm and manslaughter by aggravated abuse of a child.
The family's grief is profound. In an obituary shared by the People's Funeral Home, Azariah was remembered for her love of her favourite Bluey toy and the joy she brought to her family, including an older brother and a younger sister.
"It's very hard losing a niece this way," Hough's sister, Angel, told WESH-TV. "We have so much hurt for my brother because he's just so distraught and tore up... I just can't believe it's almost Christmas and this happened."
Captain Kim Montes of the sheriff's office issued a stark warning following the incident. "Children and water can be so dangerous, and the parents' job is to make sure that all eyes are on them, focused, not under the influence, so that they can keep their kids safe," she said.
The case serves as a harrowing reminder of the critical need for constant supervision around water, particularly when adult judgement may be impaired.
