Father Charged With Reckless Manslaughter In Infant Death Case

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Police have charged a man with Reckless Manslaughter after his 5-month-old child was found unresponsive in a bathtub Sunday night. The father, 23-year-old Cordarius Cotton, told detectives that he turned the water on and placed the child in the tub and then left to play video games, forgetting about the child.

Related story: 5 Month Old Child Found Unresponsive In Bathtub

Just before 8:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23, deputies responded to a medical emergency at a residence in the 100 block of Hickory Grove Drive near Tarrant. It was reported that a five-month-old boy was not breathing.

Paramedics arrived on scene and transported the child to an area hospital. The child was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

During questioning, Cotton told detectives that he turned the water on and placed the child in the tub. He left the room to go play a video game and forgot about the child. When he returned to the bathtub about an hour later, he found the child was unresponsive.

Sheriff’s detectives reviewed the case with the District Attorney’s Office and obtained an arrest warrant formally charging Cotton with Reckless Manslaughter. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $15,000.

Photo via Jefferson County Jail