In Sanford, Florida, a couple has been arrested following the tragic drowning of their autistic toddler. Lester Ortiz, 39, and Barbara Ruiz, 37, found themselves in custody after their 3-year-old son, Ethan Ortiz Ruiz, ventured out of their apartment unnoticed, eventually meeting a grim fate in a nearby pond.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, shortly after 3 p.m., at an apartment complex around 20 miles north of Orlando.
According to police, Ortiz placed a distress call to 911, roughly 30 minutes after realizing that Ethan had gone missing from their residence. Despite searching in the vicinity of the pond among other areas, Ortiz was unable to locate his son in time.
When the authorities arrived, they noted a strong odor of fresh marijuana emanating from Ortiz, alongside bloodshot eyes and profuse sweating.
Similar observations were made about Ruiz upon entering the apartment, where the presence of freshly-smoked marijuana was evident. The parents are now facing charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child, as per the records from Seminole County Jail. The unfolding legal proceedings cast a long shadow on a family already grappling with an unfathomable loss.