An Oklahoma woman has been arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse after allegedly attempting to drown her young daughter and nephew. Flor Esthela Ontiveros, 34, was taken into custody following the incident on June 27 at the Will Rogers Aquatic Center in Oklahoma City, according to court records.
The incident came to light when a lifeguard at the pool found a boy and a girl unresponsive. The lifeguard was able to resuscitate the children, who were then transported to a local hospital for further treatment. Officials have stated that the children are expected to make a full recovery.
During the investigation, detectives noted that Ontiveros was “smiling and speaking calmly about the incident.” Witnesses also reported that she appeared to be smiling while holding the children underwater. According to the arrest affidavit, Ontiveros allegedly held her nephew’s “entire body and head underneath the water” despite multiple people yelling at her to stop.
Ontiveros’ 4-year-old daughter reportedly told investigators that her mother “pushed her face underwater” and attempted to “force” her to swallow water. In a subsequent interview, Ontiveros denied trying to drown the children but admitted that it was something she could have done.
Ontiveros was arrested on August 21 and is currently being held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond. Formal charges were filed on August 30.
The Will Rogers Aquatic Center, which is operated by the City of Oklahoma City, has credited the lifeguards for their quick response in saving the children’s lives. Mason Williams, unit operations supervisor for the city, praised the lifeguards for their actions, stating, “Their training kicked in. They get the CPR and the AED, the first aid, all of that training.”