Police: Baby Drowns While Mom Playing Game on Facebook

FORT LUPTON, Colo. -- The mother of a 13-month-old boy who drowned in a bathtub told police she was on Facebook in another room when her son died.

Shannon Johnson of Fort Lupton is due in court today on charges of child abuse resulting in death.

According to an arrest affidavit, Johnson's son died on Sept. 20 after she left him alone in the bathroom for a few minutes.

She told police she was playing a game called 'Café World' while her son was in the tub.

According to the affidavit, when police got to her home, Facebook was still up on her laptop.

Johnson told officers Joseph was playing in the tub for 10 minutes and she had checked on him once.

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When three minutes passed without the sound of him playing, she went to check on him and found him on his side with his face in the water.

He was flown to The Children's Hospital in Aurora where he died.

Court documents indicate Joseph had been treated for a seizure about a month before his death.

She is being held at the Weld County Jail on a $100,000 bond.http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-facebook-drowning-boy,0,2151588.story

Is wrong with these Mother's who think Gaming on FB is more important then watching their kids??

And especially when the child had previously been treated for a seizure!!!!
I cannot imagine leaving a 13 month old child alone in a bathtub, especially being in another room!
This is completely inexcusable.

Completely agree with you Rain1953! This reminds me of the Jacksonville FL. Young Mom that actually killed her own baby because it was interrupting her FB time.. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Just sick and wrong! Some people should NOT be parents as we all know from what we read TOO OFTEN!!

That is CRAZY!! I must admit that I play some of those FB games too, but ONLY after my son is asleep. He is older too (11), so he is more independent. However, these games can be addictive. It's important to stop & think - What is more important: a stupid computer game or a precious child?!? I think we all know the answer to that one!

Shannon Johnson

That's all it takes is 3 min.; probably less than that and your baby can drown or swallow something.

My son and DIL think I am over protective. Maybe I am, but so be it.

What a horrible, horrible situation...and for FB??????

I don't believe that someone could be so stupid. Just how long does it take to bath a baby.

Wrap, I agree with you, I was very overprotective also. This is just such a shame. Get on FB when your baby is sleeping and nothing else. I just don't believe it.

mommyof3kids wrote: Is wrong with these Mother's who think Gaming on FB is more important then watching their kids??

mommy it's good to see you again!! I've missed you!!!

A northern Colorado woman who was playing a game on Facebook while her 13-month-old baby drowned in a bathtub was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.

Shannon Johnson, 34, of Fort Lupton was also sentenced to five years of mandatory parole following her prison term.

The Greeley Tribune reported that Johnson cried as District Judge Thomas Quammen told her he didn't think she was a bad person or that she killed her son on purpose. That doesn't mean what she did wasn't criminal, he added.

Johnson was charged with child abuse that knowingly or recklessly caused death. She pleaded guilty to negligent child abuse in March.

The charges made her eligible for community corrections or probation, but authorities rejected both, saying they didn't want to play down the seriousness of her crime.

Johnson said she found her son, Joseph, sideways and face-down in a bathtub last September. She told investigators she had been playing the game Cafe World and sharing videos on Facebook in another room while her son was alone in a bathtub full of water.

Johnson called 911 to say Joseph wasn't breathing. Paramedics were able to revive the toddler but he was pronounced dead at a Denver hospital.

Johnson said her son was independent and wanted to be alone in the tub.

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