‘She’ll Never Forgive Me For This’: Parents Arrested After Reportedly Forgetting Toddler in the Bathtub

An Indiana man was arrested on Thursday, November 1 on multiple charges including neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

Fox 59 reports that 26-year-old Jacob Wootton was arrested after he allegedly forgot to look after his 2-year-old stepson which resulted in his death. According to reports, he was charged with the crime because he allegedly waited 20 minutes before calling 911.

According to authorities, Wootton allegedly told his cousin he forgot the little boy was in the bathtub. The child was pronounced dead on October 29.

Reports say the toddler’s cause of death was blunt force trauma and also hemorrhaging of an optic nerve, according to the Marion County Coroner’s Office.

Wootton was also charged with invasion of privacy, resisting law enforcement, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia.

The Elwood police also reportedly found multiple bruises on the young boy’s back.

Wootton reportedly said he tried smacking the young boy to get him to wake up. He also allegedly told his cousin, “I probably broke his ribs.”

On October 26, police were called to the residence, and according to court documents the boy was left with Wootton after his mother Alyson Stephen went to work.

As Fox 10 reports, Wootton’s cousin and a friend came over after she left. When they got there, Wootton answered the door with the unresponsive boy wrapped in a blanket.

According to authorities, one of them tried to help administer CPR to the young boy as the other called 911.

The two later told the police that Wootton was crying and when they touched the boy he was “cold to the touch.”

Authorities interviewed Wootton at the emergency room where he said he thought he heard a “thud” and thought the toddler had fallen in the tub.”

He told them it must have happened after he left the bathroom to tend to his two other stepchildren.

His cousins told authorities that Wootton told him, “She’ll never forgive me for this.”

In their own interview with police, one of Wootton’s other stepchildren spoke of their interactions with Wootton:

“Jake gives baths, but also whoops us too.”

Authorities said the other child said he is scared of both Wootton and his mother.

Stephen voluntarily returned to the police department and told authorities about her and Wootton’s violent relationship. She said before she left for work she noticed Wootton was in danger of “snapping again” because he couldn’t find the electrical tape.

She said he had a “quick fuse.”

Stephen was also arrested on Wednesday, November 7. The mother has been charged with neglect of a dependent.