Two women charged with child neglect in connection with the death of a three-month-old girl

AVON PARK, Fla. – Two women were charged Monday in connection with the death of a 3-month-old girl in Avon Park in May.

Highlands County Sheriff’s officials were called to a home on Lake Avenue in Avon Park on the morning of May 4 because the toddler was unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the hospital at 7:25 a.m. that same day.

An investigation into the three-month-old girl’s death revealed that she and her two siblings (ages 2 and 4), who were in the home when officers arrived on May 4, had been removed from Watson’s custody because she had used drugs and failed to adequately supervise the children.

The three-month-old boy was placed in the care of Wyche, Watson’s cousin, pending a final decision.

The two-year-old had already been placed in Wyche’s permanent care, and Watson’s parents took custody of the four-year-old.

The court order stated that the children were not allowed to be in Watson’s company and were only allowed to interact with him under supervision.

Despite this court order, officials said Wyche dropped off the three-month-old and two-year-old at Watson’s on the evening of May 3 because she wanted to go ice skating with her own children. Wyche said she would return to pick up the baby but never did.

The investigation revealed that Watson had allegedly left the children alone in the house that night and had also smoked drugs.

At some point that night, while Watson was sleeping on a mattress with the three-month-old and another child, she rolled on top of the baby, causing it to stop breathing. The Precinct 10 medical examiner concluded that the baby’s cause of death was “accidental superposition.”

Officials later discovered that the house had no exposed electrical outlets, no running water, and windows covered with wood and cardboard.

Authorities also found that meth was within reach of the children in several locations.

The child’s mother, 28-year-old Sabrina Denise Watson, is charged with involuntary manslaughter of a child, two counts of child neglect, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gwendolyn L. Wyche, 49, who had legal guardianship of the toddler, was charged with child neglect.

Sabrina’s parents, Angeline and William Watson, were also charged with child neglect for leaving the four-year-old in Sabrina’s care in violation of a court order.