Mom, 26, Is Charged After Her 6-Year-Old Daughter Is Found Dead in Bathtub Filled with Water: Police

A mother has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of her six-year-old daughter.

Karla Espinal, 26, from Brooklyn, New York City, was charged with assault and reckless endangerment over the death of her daughter after she was found "unresponsive" in a bathtub by police at home on Friday, Feb. 7, the New York City Police Department confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

“Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the following individual was arrested and charged on February 8, 2025 at 1755 hours in the confines of the 75 Precinct,” police said.

Espinal's charges include assault in the second degree for recklessly causing serious physical injury, acting in a manner injurious to a child and reckless endangerment in the second degree, NYPD confirmed to PEOPLE.

On Friday, Feb. 7, police found Espinal’s six-year-old daughter “unconscious and unresponsive” in a filled-up bathtub at a residence block in Cyprus Hills, Brooklyn, as they responded to a 911 call at around 1:30 p.m. to the home.

“Emergency Medical Services responded to the location and transported the female aided to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased,” police said in a previous statement to PEOPLE.

Related: 'Little Angel' Drowned in Tub While Caretaker Allegedly Talked on the Phone for 30 Minutes: Police

A young woman was seen being led out of the property by police in handcuffs on Friday by neighbor Helen Cunningham, the The New York Times reported. She told the outlet that she also saw a man, believed to be the girl’s father, join the girl in the ambulance.

Cunningham said the girl lived at the home with her parents and one or two other children after moving in a few months ago, per NYT. She added that police had visited the residence for the second time that week.

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Related: 9-Year-Old Girl Drowned in Bath While Her Mom Went to Look for Favorite Toy, Officials Say

Next door neighbor Gina Khau said she heard “someone screaming” at the property at around 4:00 a.m. local time, per the New York Post. She said of the family, “I see that they are happy. I see the mother loved the girl … and [the father] is a nice guy.”

Neighbor Vincent Abad shared with the outlet that the girl was “regularly seen with her parents.”

The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

“The identity of the deceased is pending family notification,” said police.

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