A 45-year-old mother in Turlock, California, was found guilty of second-degree murder after her 2-year-old daughter drowned while she was intoxicated and on dating apps
Mother Found Guilty of Murdering Two-Year-Old Daughter
A mother has been found guilty of murdering her two-year-old daughter after leaving the toddler unattended while she got drunk and called men from dating apps.
Kelle Anne Brassart, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder and felony child endangerment on Tuesday over the death of her daughter, Daniellé Pires, who drowned at the family’s home on September 12.
Details of the Case
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Incident | September 12 | Daniellé drowned in the family pool. |
| Brassart’s Conviction | Tuesday | Convicted of second-degree murder and felony child endangerment. |
| Brassart’s Blood Alcohol Content | N/A | .246 percent, more than three times the legal limit. |
| Sentencing Date | Early February | Brassart faces 15 years to life in prison. |
Brassart was on the phone to men she met on dating apps while her daughter drowned. She claimed she could not help because she had recently undergone ankle surgery. Brassart told the jury she asked Daniellé to let their dogs out on her own.
Nearly 45 minutes later, at 3:27 PM, she called police. When officers from the Turlock Police Department in California arrived, they found Daniellé floating motionless in the family’s pool. Prosecutors argued Brassart made no attempt to rescue her child.
The little girl, just one week shy of her third birthday, was rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Brassart said she was physically unable to help, telling authorities she could not save her daughter because she was confined to a wheelchair following surgery on both ankles.
However, prosecutors quickly challenged this claim. An investigation revealed Brassart had been driving her car, attending nail appointments, and was otherwise mobile without the use of the wheelchair. Surveillance footage shown in court showed Brassart walking and standing without her wheelchair.
As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered further troubling details. The investigation revealed empty and full liquor bottles were found hidden throughout Brassart’s home. Toxicology reports showed her blood alcohol content was .246 percent, more than three times the legal driving limit.
Investigators discovered Brassart was on the phone for 45 minutes speaking with men she met through dating apps. At the time of her daughter’s death, Brassart was also on probation for child abuse after another one of her children was hospitalized for ingesting medication.
The little girl’s father, Daniel Pires, who had gone to work earlier that day, allegedly asked Brassart not to drink alcohol while looking after their daughter. She had also been ordered by the court to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
“This was not her first time,” Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa told the jury. “This is a case where the defendant knew, and she didn’t care. She didn’t care that her daughter was at risk; she didn’t care that she wasn’t watching her; because all she wanted to do was be selfish and get drunk.”
For Daniellé’s family, the guilty verdict offered a small measure of closure. One family friend said, “Daniellé got justice today. She did not deserve what happened to her.” Sousa added, “This was the result we were hoping for and believed in. She not only failed in her duty to care for her child, but she did it in a way that was so reckless and indifferent to human life that her conduct amounted to that of second-degree murder.”
The Turlock Police Department described the case as one of its most challenging. Brassart now faces a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison. She is due to be sentenced in early February.
