Sump Pump Electrocuted Mother, 4-Year-Old: Police

The names of a Chevy Chase woman and her 4-year-old daughter who were electrocuted by their home’s sump pump have been released.

Montgomery County Police say the victims are Crystal Leigh Puderbaugh, 29, and Lily Elizabeth Puderbaugh, 4, of the 8800 block of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the cause of death for Crystal Puderbaugh as a combination of drowning and electrocution and has ruled the cause of death for Lily Puderbaugh as electrocution. There is no evidence of foul play, authorities say.

Investigators say both victims were found unresponsive just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday; they were found outside of the home in the stairwell leading to the basement.

A portable sump pump in standing water near the victims had charged the water and an electrical surge contributed to the victims’ deaths.

On June 27 many areas of Montgomery County experienced flooding due to the heavy rainfall throughout the day.