Parents Sue Babysitter After Toddler Drowns In Pool In Somerset County

FRANKLIN, NJ — The parents of two-year-old Alani Sophia Holmes, who drowned in a pool in 2022, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her babysitter and her family.

Jeffrey Holmes and Nilda Sanchez, represented by Groen Strokoff O’Neill in Philadelphia and The Law Firm of Craig Rothenberg of New Brunswick, filed the lawsuit in Somerset County Superior Court on Jan. 19 against Zaira Alcantara, Rudiard R. Foy Alcantara and Sandy Alcantara.

Court documents show the family was served with the lawsuit on Feb. 14.

On May 12, 2022, Sanchez dropped her 2-year-old daughter at the Alcantara's home. The lawsuit claims the family had cameras on the back deck of their home which contained footage of the horrific events of that day.

The lawsuit alleges the family was doing work in the backyard, near the pool and deck, and repeatedly entered and exited the back door of the house.

At about 5 p.m., Alani was unsupervised and exited the back door left open by Defendants and Alani went onto the deck, according to the lawsuit.

Alani then reportedly climbed a planter in the back corner of the deck and from the top of the planter, she went over the railing and fell into the pool, according to the lawsuit.

"Camera footage horrifically shows Alani flailing her arms and splashing in a desperate attempt to stay above the water," according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges the Defendants were not supervising Alani and had no idea she had entered the pool and was drowning.

As a result, Alani was unable to stay above water and she sunk to the bottom of the pool, according to the lawsuit.

Minutes later, Defendants noticed Alani was missing and began searching for her around the property and neighborhood. The Defendants also used a pool net to search the bottom of the pool because the water was murky, but they did not find anything, according to the lawsuit.

About 30 minutes later, the Defendants went into the pool and found Alani’s body at the bottom, according to the lawsuit.

"Defendants removed Alani’s motionless body from the pool, began attempting to administer CPR, and finally called 9-1-1," according to the lawsuit.

Alani was rushed to the hospital, and she was pronounced dead on May 13, 2022.

The lawsuit alleges the family was negligent and reckless in not supervising or watching Alani, leaving the back door of the home open, and allowing Alani to gain unsupervised access to the pool from the deck.

The parents are also seeking "damages for the conscious pain and suffering, including mental and physical pain and anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and medical expenses suffered by Alani Sophia Holmes, up to and including the time of her death, which were caused by Defendants’ breach of duties, negligence, carelessness, gross negligence, and recklessness."

Along with damages, the parents are seeking attorney's fees, interest, and costs of the lawsuit.

"As a direct and proximate resolute of Defendants’ outrageous, willful and wanton
acts, and their complete disregard for the life and safety of decedent Alani Sophia Holmes, she
was forced to endure great pain, suffering, terror, and ultimately death, and Defendants’ conduct
warrants the imposition of punitive damages," according to the lawsuit.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.