Child drowning investigation leads to endangerment charges against California couple
An El Monte couple has been charged with child endangerment after an investigation into the drowning death of their 2-year-old daughter when they lived in Chino Hills in 2021.
The charge, however, is not related to the drowning, Jacquelyn Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, said Monday, Aug. 8. Roberto Garcia-Negrete and Samantha Janine Borrayo, both 23, were charged because investigators found marijuana being grown and an illegal weapon inside their home, Rodriguez said. Garcia-Negrete was also charged with possession of an assault rifle.
The charges were filed on June 27. The couple was arrested on Aug. 4 and posted bail. Neither has made a court appearance.
On June 13, 2021, at about 6:30 a.m., sheriff’s deputies learned that Melanie Garcia had died at Kaiser Hospital in Ontario. She had been brought by her parents, who said they found her in the pool at their home in the 15000 block of Rolling Ridge Drive in Chino Hills. Investigators determined that Melanie had awakened and wound up in the pool, a sheriff’s news release said.
Investigators recovered marijuana, concentrated cannabis and firearms from the home, the release said.
“Detectives noted neither of the parents exhibited any signs of being under the influence,” the release said.
No arrests were made at the time, and the couple later moved to El Monte.
The DA’s Office subsequently filed the charges.