Cops described 'disturbing findings' including drug paraphernalia and animal urine at the home in Slidell, near New Orleans, Louisiana
A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy has drowned in a filthy backyard swimming pool in Louisiana while his young father allegedly smoked meth inside the house.
Timothy Brooks, who has lived his with his 24-year-old father since his mother was jailed, was found unresponsive in his backyard swimming pool just before 6pm on March 5.
Paramedics and police were called to the scene and the boy was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officers stayed at the home for several hours, investigating the surroundings and executing a search warrant.
They noted “disturbing findings”, such as drug paraphernalia, animal urine, decaying food and no running water in the house.
There was no safety fence around the pool which was filled with green pond scum and “all kinds of trash”, cops said.
Slidell Police Department chief Randy Fandal said: “Trash and food was piled up around the house, it had no running water, and the swimming pool had stagnant water that was riddled with debris.
“The most disturbing finding was the amount of drug paraphernalia and suspected narcotics throughout the house.”
Police said witnesses told them the boy was left unattended while his father, Zachary Brooks, smoked meth with other adults inside the house.
Fandal said: “At the time of Timothy’s drowning, he was left unattended in the backyard while Zachary Brooks engaged in illegal narcotics inside the home.
“There is no question in my mind that the drug use, deplorable conditions of the house, and the way Timothy was being cared for, contributed to his death."
Brooks was arrested on April 7 on charges of second-degree cruelty to juveniles and negligent homicide.
He is being held in jail with a $200,000 bond.
The boy died in Slidell, a small town just outside New Orleans, in Louisiana.
Randal said: “This is nothing less than tragic - it could have been prevented.”
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