Mom was reportedly asleep when 3-year-old girl drowned in Surprise backyard pool

SURPRISE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Police have released new information about the 3-year-old girl who drowned in a backyard pool in Surprise earlier this week.

On Tuesday, just before 2 p.m., someone called 911 saying the toddler was found in the pool at a home near Reems and Greenway roads and wasn’t breathing. She was rushed to an area hospital and pronounced dead soon after. Police said it was possible she had been in the pool for up to three hours.

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On Friday, police released new details on the investigation into the child’s death. The girl and her mother were the only ones home at the time, and they typically take a nap together during the day. Police say the mother fell asleep, and the toddler went to the backyard. Another family member returned home later and found her in the pool.

The family told investigators that safeguards were usually in place to keep the girl from getting into the backyard and pool, but not all were in place on the day of the accident. Police will turn the case over to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review, which is typical in these situations.