A Washington, D.C., man vacationing in Central Florida was arrested after deputies say he fell asleep in a hot tub while holding his toddler at a short-term rental and later woke to find her unresponsive. The 20-month-old girl was pronounced dead at a hospital early Saturday, Dec. 13, and her father, Reynard Tyrone Hough, 33, was booked into the Osceola County Jail.
Authorities said the drowning happened at an Airbnb-listed home on Nice Court just after 3:30 a.m., when sheriff’s deputies and fire rescue answered a call about an unresponsive child. The girl was taken to AdventHealth Celebration and pronounced dead shortly after 4:30 a.m. Investigators said Hough told them he brought his daughter into the hot tub and dozed off with her in his arms before waking to find she wasn’t breathing. Detectives first arrested him on a count of child neglect causing great bodily harm and later added aggravated manslaughter of a child as the investigation developed. He remained jailed Tuesday as the sheriff’s office continued collecting statements and timelines.
Detectives said the family had arrived for a holiday stay and were using the backyard spa late at night. Interview summaries indicate Hough described placing the child against his chest in warm water and losing consciousness, then attempting to rouse her when he awoke. Deputies have not released the length of time he was asleep or the water temperature at the rental. The case file lists the girl’s age as 20 months and notes that a second infant was in the home with the mother when first responders arrived. Paramedics performed lifesaving measures as deputies documented the patio layout, the spa controls and the route medics used to move the child to the ambulance.
In an initial public statement, the sheriff’s office said evidence supported a neglect charge tied to the decision to bring the toddler into the hot tub and to fall asleep while holding her. Over the weekend, investigators added the aggravated manslaughter count, a first-degree felony in Florida when negligence results in a child’s death. Jail records list Hough’s hometown as Washington, D.C. Deputies said the girl’s death is being treated as a preventable drowning during a family trip and that no other suspects are being sought. Officials did not release the child’s name. The property owner declined to comment pending the completion of the inquiry.
News of the arrest rippled through Central Florida outlets and the family’s home city. Relatives told reporters they were shattered by the loss as they navigated arrangements far from home. A sister sharing remembrances said the toddler was quick-footed and joyful and that the coming holidays had been filled with plans now upended. Neighbors on the cul-de-sac described a quiet night that turned busy with flashing lights as cruisers and a rescue unit parked outside the rental. One neighbor said the backyards in the development are close, with low fences and small patios that make unusual sounds easy to notice; few heard anything before the sirens.
Investigators documented the scene with photographs and measurements, including the depth and diameter of the spa, the placement of handrails, and the visibility from the patio door to the water. Detectives also retrieved thermostat readings from the spa controls and checked for exterior cameras at the house and nearby properties that might show movements to and from the backyard. The agency said it will consult medical reports from the hospital and the medical examiner to confirm the cause and manner of death; deputies have preliminarily described the incident as a suspected drowning. Officials declined to say whether alcohol or medications are part of the evidence review, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
The rental sits off U.S. 192 near the Four Corners area west of Kissimmee, a dense corridor of vacation homes popular with out-of-state families. In recent years, local authorities have emphasized pool and spa safety during tourist seasons as short-term rental growth brings more visitors to neighborhoods with backyard water features. Fire-rescue officials routinely warn that even shallow spas can pose hazards to infants and toddlers if an adult loses concentration for moments. Deputies said the family had been in the area a short time and were planning a weekend of outings before the emergency call changed the trip’s trajectory.
Under Florida law, aggravated manslaughter of a child can be charged when the state alleges a caregiver’s culpable negligence caused a child’s death. Child neglect causing great bodily harm is a second-degree felony. Prosecutors in Osceola County will ultimately decide how to proceed as detectives submit reports from first responders, interviews with relatives, and any test results. Hough’s first appearance was held over the weekend, with additional hearings expected as the state files formal charges. Court officials had not posted a full docket by Tuesday afternoon.
As detectives continued their work, visitors drove past the tidy block of vacation homes where the backyard spa sits steps from a screened patio. By Monday night, the street was quiet again. A small toy appeared near the front walk beside a potted plant, and tape remnants clung to a gate where deputies had moved in and out. “You just never think of something like this happening to a family on a trip,” a neighbor said, adding that the block often hosts weeklong rentals that turn over on weekends.
As of late Tuesday, Hough remained in the Osceola County Jail while investigators finalized reports for prosecutors and awaited the medical examiner’s findings. Officials said the next procedural step is a charging decision by the state attorney’s office and the scheduling of a bond review or arraignment date once filings are complete.
Author note: Last updated December 17, 2025.