Decatur woman arrested after trying to drown 7-month-old in bathtub

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Decatur police say a 20-year-old mother called in to report that she had attempted to drown her 7-month-old baby in a bathtub on Sunday.

Valissa M. Thornell was arrested when police showed up to her apartment after she called in stating she was trying to kill her baby by drowning and then kill herself.

When officers arrived, they said Thornell was outside her apartment with her baby, who was gurgling with water coming out of his mouth.

According to police documents, Thornell admitted to trying to drown her child in a Mirandized interview. She told police that she ran water in the tub, placed the child in the water, and then held him under when he started to float.

When his eyes got large and he started gasping, she said she picked the baby up but then placed him back in the water and walked way for two minutes.

She then told police that he was face down in the water kicking his feet when she returned to the bathroom. At this point, she said she picked him up and saw that he was blue.

During a search of the apartment, officers found around 2 inches of water in the tub and water spots all over the bathroom floor. There were no witnesses to this incident.

Thornell made her initial appearance in court on Monday where she was denied pretrial release. She has been charged with attempted first degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery to a child. She returns to court in early April.

The Department of Children and Family Services confirmed that a case had been open for Thornell, but would not comment further.