'My Baby Isn't Coming Home:' Mother Speaks Out About 9-Year-old Daughter's Drowning

A Michigan family that visited the Southland with two children this weekend but went home with only one is speaking out about the loss of their 9-year-old daughter and sister who drowned in the DoubleTree Hilton in Alsip.

Alsip police said Adriana Douglas, of Highland, Michigan, was swimming in the pool on Saturday along with several other children who were in town taking part in the Police Athletic League cheerleading competition. The third-grader’s mother, Latice Douglas, told ABC affiliate WXYZ News in Detroit that her daughter was attending the competition with her father and 11-year-old brother.

“My son said she was having fun, swimming, going up and down, and having fun,” said Douglas.

The next moment people with Adriana realized she had not come up from the pool. The Alsip Fire Department was called. Paramedics immediately began life-saving measures. Adriana was brought to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m.

Her mother described her daughter as a little girl who loved being with her family, did well in school and loved cheerleading. Before Adriana left for her trip to Chicago, she diligently practiced the routines for the competition, WXYZ reported.

Latice Douglas told the TV news station that her daughter knew how to swim.

“You never know that your baby is not going to come home. She was so beautiful... and that is all I can think about is my beautiful baby is not coming home and it is so hard,” said Douglas.

Alsip police called the girl’s drowning a tragic accident. There are tiles on the bottom of the hotel pool marking the depths at 6, 5, 4 and 3 feet. A blue and white rope with plastic buoys divides the pool depth between 4 and 5 feet, according to information provided by the Alsip Police Department.

The pool and fitness area is only accessible by key card entry, which police said appeared to be functioning properly.

Also, etched on the door and in several places around the pool area are signs notifying guests that there is no lifeguard on duty. Children younger than 16 also require adult supervision when using the pool. The signs recommend that guests do not swim alone.

While the pool itself is not under video surveillance, security cameras in the fitness area captured a partial view. Division Chief Jay Miller said that Alsip police investigators are reviewing video.

Miller said in an email summary provided to Patch that the water temperature was 85 degrees. The water in the pool was somewhat cloudy the day of the incident. There have been no reported problems with the pool or facility.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help the family pay the funeral costs for young Adriana.

“I just want people to hold their babies, because they can be taken in the blink of an eye,” the girl’s mother said.

Adriana Douglas, 9, of Highland Park, MI | GoFundMe