In Liberty County, Texas, on September 29, 2025, law enforcement responded to an emergency at a pond on a private estate in Dayton. The Liberty County Sheriff's Office found a mother, Jessica Quintana (39) and her three children—ages 6, 11 and 15—wet and hospitalized after what authorities are characterizing as a near‑drowning incident. According to investigations, the children and mother were by the water when the emergency call was made. The children were subsequently taken to the hospital: the 11‑year‑old and mother were in critical condition, while the other two children were listed in stable but serious condition.
Jessica Quintana was arrested once released from hospital care and booked on multiple charges: two counts of injury to a child causing bodily injury and one count of assault causing bodily injury. Court documents allege she had given her children NyQuil and possibly alcohol, and then led them into the pond—even reportedly speaking of drowning them.
Her husband, Domingo Quintana, called 911 saying his family was in the water and possibly being harmed. Deputies found the mother in the pond, the children nearby. Two children and Jessica needed critical hospital care; investigations are ongoing.
While many early drowning and near‑drowning incidents involve very young children, this case serves as a reminder: older children and whole families can also be at risk, especially around natural or unmonitored bodies of water like ponds. Even when the incident is not purely accidental—as here appears to involve alleged intentional harm—the water hazard remains central.
Homes with private ponds or water features require heightened safety measures:
Clearly barred or inaccessible ponds when unsupervised
Adult monitoring when children are near or in the water
Emergency readiness including flotation devices, rescue poles, and a quick call to EMS
Awareness that intoxication, sedation, or impaired supervision increases risk dramatically
The Quintana case demonstrates how supervision and hazard control around water can lead to criminal liability when children are harmed. Separately, in civil law contexts, families impacted by drownings or near‑drownings often explore claims of negligence or premises liability if the environment was unsafe or supervision was inadequate.
Legal questions that arise in these incidents include:
Was there adequate supervision given the hazard?
Was the water hazard accessible to children without barriers?
Did any property owner or adult fail in their duty of care?
Was emergency response delayed or inadequate?
When an incident involves suspected intentional acts—as appears here—it also underscores the importance of timely medical intervention and legal consultation for the affected children and their caregivers.
At Aquatic Attorneys, we understand that drowning and near‑drowning incidents are deeply traumatic events for families. Led by Michael Haggard, Esq., our team has decades of experience helping families navigate the legal aftermath of water‑related injuries and fatalities. We assess whether preventable conditions, inadequate supervision, or hazard control failures contributed to the incident and help families obtain answers, justice and—when appropriate—compensation.
If your family has experienced a drowning or near‑drowning incident in a pond or lake, please contact Aquatic Attorneys for a free, confidential consultation to explore your legal rights and options.
Source:
