An 8-year-old Spokane girl died Sunday after firefighters responding to a water leak entered her apartment and found her unresponsive in an overflowing bathtub, according to court documents.
The girl’s mother, 23-year-old Travionna C. Johnson, is facing charges of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter and first-degree abandonment of a dependent person. She appeared in Spokane County Superior Court Monday, where her bond was set at $500,000.
The incident happened at an apartment on East Baldwin Avenue in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood. Firefighters were called to the building after a neighbor reported water coming from an upstairs unit. When responders arrived, the apartment door was locked, so they entered through a window.
Inside, they found the child floating face up and unresponsive in the bathtub. Firefighters and ambulance crews attempted lifesaving measures before taking her to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m.
Mother Had Left for Work
Investigators said Johnson left the apartment shortly before 7 a.m. to go to work. She told police that her daughter was still asleep when she left and that she expected her sister to come over and care for the child.
Johnson later told investigators that she had sent her sister a text asking her to watch the girl. According to court documents, however, Johnson knew the message had not gone through because her phone relied on Wi-Fi and did not have regular cellular service.
Police said Johnson normally arranged care for her daughter before leaving for work. Investigators questioned why she departed without confirming that another adult was present. Johnson reportedly told them she did not know how to answer that question.
The child had epilepsy, developmental disabilities and was nonverbal, according to the court documents. Johnson told investigators that her daughter functioned at roughly the level of a 3- or 4-year-old and acknowledged that leaving her alone created a safety risk.
Child Required Close Supervision
Records indicate the girl needed substantial assistance with everyday activities. A home-care aide who spent about three and a half hours with her the day before her death documented balance and walking difficulties. The child wore leg braces and needed help on stairs and uneven surfaces.
The aide also noted that the girl needed help with personal hygiene, dressing and eating and should remain within sight at all times. The caregiver told investigators that the child liked the sound of running water and sometimes went into the bathroom to turn on a faucet.
Johnson also told police that her daughter was fascinated by running water. She said she allowed the girl to use the sink faucet when she could see her, but understood that leaving her alone around a bathtub with running water was unsafe.
Care Arrangements Had Become Difficult
Johnson told investigators that arranging enough in-home care had become increasingly difficult after her daughter returned to school. She said her authorized care hours had been reduced during the school year, leaving her working two jobs while raising her daughter as a single mother.
Court documents also describe Johnson as having struggled with depression. Her family told the court that she needed mental health support and described her as overwhelmed by the demands of caring for her daughter while working.
Johnson’s sister told investigators that she had helped care for the child for years and that Johnson generally organized her work schedule around her daughter’s needs. The sister also said she had not previously been concerned about the child’s safety while in Johnson’s care.
Family Supports Johnson
During Monday’s hearing, Johnson’s mother, Kimberly Russell, defended her daughter and told the court that she believed Johnson loved her child and would not intentionally hurt her.
Family members also asked the court to consider Johnson’s circumstances and need for help. The court nevertheless approved the $500,000 bond requested by the prosecution.
Johnson is scheduled to return to court on September 24. The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the court system.
