'She falls asleep a lot': 23-year-old mom was passed out on couch while her 2 kids were dying in pool with cocaine in their systems, grandma came home to find them, cops say – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Katy, Texas – A 23-year-old mother remained asleep on the living room couch while her two young daughters slipped outside and ended up in the backyard pool. Their grandmother returned from errands just after 11 a.m. on Feb. 11 and found the girls in the water. She screamed for help, and neighbors joined the frantic effort to pull the children out and begin CPR.
The Morning That Changed Everything
The grandmother had left the home around 9:30 a.m. after seeing the children playing safely in the living room. When she came back, the back door stood partially open. She immediately spotted both girls in the pool and called out in alarm. Several neighbors rushed over to assist, and emergency crews arrived soon after.
The children, ages 2 and 3, were taken to a nearby hospital. They were later pronounced dead. Investigators later learned the latch on the back door leading to the pool area had not been working properly, a detail confirmed by family members and police.
What the Mother Told Police
Laura Nicholson told investigators she had fallen asleep on the couch and was awakened only when her mother began screaming. She said the children often tried to get out to the pool area. Her father later told officers that Nicholson tended to fall asleep frequently, which sometimes created problems around the house.
Nicholson had been living with her parents for about a year. She also mentioned that child protective services had questioned her the previous year over drug-related concerns. The family confirmed the back-door latch issue to authorities during the initial interviews.
Medical Findings and Safety Concerns
An autopsy showed both children had cocaine and a cocaine metabolite in their systems. Medical examiners noted that drowning is often difficult to confirm through autopsy alone and is usually determined by the surrounding circumstances. They pointed out that the lack of proper fencing and locks around the pool, combined with inadequate supervision, created an extremely dangerous situation.
State records indicated the grandmother had previously filed a complaint with child protective services regarding Nicholson’s alleged cocaine use. Investigators documented these details as part of the ongoing review of the case.
Charges and Next Steps
Nicholson was arrested in Florida and charged with two counts of injury to a child. Authorities said the charges stem from her alleged failure to provide adequate supervision. The case remains under review by prosecutors in Harris County.
What matters now:
- Proper pool barriers and working locks remain essential in homes with young children.
- Repeated concerns about supervision or substance use can trigger earlier intervention.
- Community awareness of child safety around water continues to save lives.
The tragedy has renewed attention on basic home safety measures that can prevent similar incidents. Families across Texas and beyond are being reminded that even brief lapses in supervision near water can have irreversible consequences.
