INTOXICATED MOTHER CONVICTED IN DEATH OF 13-MONTH-OLD SON, WHO DROWNED IN BACKYARD POOL WHILE MOTHER WAS NEGLECTING TO CARE FOR HIM

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

INTOXICATED MOTHER CONVICTED IN DEATH

OF 13-MONTH-OLD SON, WHO DROWNED IN BACKYARD POOL WHILE MOTHER WAS

NEGLECTING TO CARE FOR HIM

SANTA ANA – A negligent Anaheim mother pleaded guilty today to killing her 13-month-old baby after he drowned in the family pool while the defendant was drunk and not caring for her children.  Paige Elizabeth Looney, 36, pleaded guilty to one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and two felony counts of child endangerment with a sentencing enhancement for child endangerment resulting in death. The defendant was sentenced to one year in jail and will not receive sentencing credit for the year and a half she was in custody while the case was pending. She was also ordered to complete a 2-year residential drug treatment program.

On Feb. 21, 2008, Looney spent the day drinking in her Anaheim home and became intoxicated, failing to care for her two little boys, ages 4 and 13-months.  Eric, the 13-month-old baby, went out into the backyard and drowned in the pool. Sometime later, Looney became aware that Eric was missing and began to look for him. The defendant found her son in the pool and pulled him out. Looney’s 12-year-old daughter came home from school at approximately the same time and called 9-1-1. Responding paramedics arrived to find the lifeless baby. They were unable to revive Eric and he was pronounced dead at the hospital.  

Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.