Baby drowns near Othello

OTHELLO — A mother returned from answering the phone to find her 1-year-old daughter at the bottom of the deep end of the pool Tuesday.

Adams County Sheriff's Office contacted the mother at Othello Community Hospital and conducted a brief investigation, according to undersheriff Kevin Fuhr.

"We ruled out any criminal elements. It was an accident," he said. "We looked at it to make sure mom was doing what she was supposed to be doing."

The mother left the pool for four or five minutes to answer a phone call, Fuhr reported. Her other children came to her and told her they couldn't find the young girl. The drowning victim was removed from the pool and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

— Staff report