A 4-year-old girl drowned in a murky pool at an apartment complex in Garland Sunday night, police say.[[484453951,R]]
According to police, the girl, identified as 4-year-old Mariah Contreras, was with her family at the Meadow Creek Apartments when she was reported missing at about 7:30 p.m.
Investigators believed the girl was in the pool without a flotation device when the family lost sight of her. Police and paramedics noted the nine-foot-deep pool was very murky and difficult to see underneath.
After several attempts of searching the pool, a paramedic finally located the girl unconscious at the bottom. She was rushed to Dallas Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased.
Investigators said the drowning was accidental however officials with Texas Child Protective Services confirmed to NBC 5 Tuesday that they are investigating the incident to determine whether abuse or neglect played any role in the girl's death.
Dorothy White, City Health Department spokeswoman, confirmed the pool was inspected May 15 with "a few deficiencies" which had been corrected. The complex received an operational permit on May 18, White said.
