MARICOPA, AZ - Authorities in Arizona are recommending child abuse charges against two parents who were allegedly partying and not paying attention to their 18-month-old son when he fell into the pool and drowned.
The little boy was declared dead at the hospital and then found alive in the morgue hours later, according to police. Now, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is reviewing whether to formally file the felony child abuse charges against the parents of the baby, identified as Vincent Fiordilino, Law & Crime reported. The little boy was found facedown in a backyard swimming pool during a Super Bowl party in February.
According to a police report, the boy's father and mother both admitted to smoking marijuana and not watching their son closely during the party. The report alleges that the boy was not seen falling into the pool due to "the potential of both parents' state of mind being impaired by marijuana and/or other mind-altering substances."
First responders rushed Vincent to a nearby hospital and a doctor declared him dead that evening. The boy was moved to the hospital's morgue around 7:23 p.m. and then found alive and breathing around 11:52 p.m. by a medical examiner's team.
The report also states that when the doctor who declared Vincent dead went to notify the parents of their son's death, a nurse said, "I have a pulse." When an officer alerted the doctor, he "arrogantly" insisted that "he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing," the report states.
Officers who were at the hospital allegedly saw the doctor tell hospital staff to stop performing life saving measures on Vincent due to the child's condition. His parents and the officers both expressed concerns that the child appeared to still be breathing, and reported seeing and hearing him taking gasps of air. Hospital staff told them it was "agonal breathing."
Police said the doctor, however, will not face any criminal charges. After being transported to Phoenix Children's Hospital, the family's GoFundMe says Vincent's organs began shutting down.
"His kidneys, lungs, and liver were all struggling," the fundraiser explains. "An MRI was ordered later that day to determine brain activity and potential damage. The results came back showing only two tiny 'pencil‑dot' areas of potential brain damage, and doctors expressed grave concern."
The little boy continued to fight and additional tests later showed no brain damage. "He will need extensive therapy, ongoing medical monitoring, and support for his healing organs," the fundraiser says. The family describes Vincent as a "miracle baby," saying that his mom and dad experienced "every parent's worst nightmare." Vicent was reportedly under water for five minutes before he was found.
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