What we know about the near-drownings reported in Liberty County
There has been a lot of confusion with a story involving three children pulled from a pond in Liberty County, but deputies on Monday shared part of their investigation to clear any misunderstanding.
There has been a lot of confusion with a story involving three children pulled from a pond in Liberty County. Deputies on Monday shared part of their investigation in a press release to clear any misunderstanding “or misinformation currently circulating in the community and on social media.”
FIRST REPORT: Mother, three children pulled from pond in Liberty County
On Sept. 29, just before 6 a.m., investigators with the Liberty Co. Sheriff’s Office said Domingo Quintana told 911 that his wife, Jessica Quintana, 39, had given the children NyQuil infused with vodka before trying to drown them in a pond. Investigators later confirmed there was no alcohol involved.
Deputies said in their news release they found Jessica and the “three children— two girls, ages 15 and 11, and a boy, age 6 — in or near a pond” located in the 9100 block of FM 1008 in Dayton at 6:13 a.m. One of the children was unresponsive, so lifesaving measures were taken before they were rushed to hospitals.
Domingo was later arrested on an unrelated animal cruelty charge after deputies said they found a “cat being kept in unsanitary and unsafe conditions inside the home.” He was released last Wednesday after posting a $5,000 bond.
On Monday, we learned Lt. Ramiro Lozano, a Liberty police officer, was suspended pending an internal investigation.
The sheriff’s office confirmed Lozano is the one who picked Domingo up once he bonded out of jail. Before that, officials said he came up to the jail asking to speak to him, and he was granted access, but it is unclear who allowed this.
Meanwhile, Jessica Quintana is still under medical care and supervision but has not had any criminal charges filed against her, as of this writing.
RELATED: CPS has custody of kids in case where mother, three children pulled from pond in Liberty County
Multiple agencies are working to investigate, including the Texas Rangers, the Liberty County District Attorney’s Office, and Child Protective Services.
“From the beginning, the safety and well-being of the three children have been the primary focus of this investigation,” LCSO said in its news release. “This case is complex and requires extensive time and resources. While public communication is important, the well-being of the children and the integrity of the investigation remain the top priorities.”
