Tenn. mother leaves 2 toddlers in bathtub and goes for 'me time', returns to find one dead

6years ago

Knoxville news, Tennessee news.

The charges against a Tennessee mother are expected to be upgraded following the death of her 11-month-old son who was left with a sibling in the bathtub as she went away for a cigarette.

32-year-old Lindsee Leonardo was initially charged with aggravated child abuse, neglect, and endangerment. She is accused of leaving her two small children in the bathtub alone in 4 to 6 inches of water on Wednesday at about 8 p.m. and stepped away for a "me time", smoking a cigarette and listening to music.

When she returned 10 minutes later, she discovered that the tub was filled to the top after her other child, a 23-month-old, turned the faucet back on. The younger baby was floating on his back.

He was rushed to a local hospital where he died on Friday.