An Evansville, Indiana mother has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death after police say she was intoxicated and unresponsive in a backyard pool chair while her 3-year-old son drowned nearby. It’s the second time in three years she’s been arrested after being found drunk while responsible for a young child, according to police.
What Happened at the Pool
According to the Evansville Police Department, 41-year-old Amie Jo Farber brought her son to a friend’s backyard pool on Saturday after asking the homeowner if the two could swim. The homeowner agreed, but told Farber to keep a close eye on the boy.
Over the next roughly two hours, police say Farber drank at least five to six 25-ounce beers while seated in a patio chair, supposedly watching her son in the water. At some point, another guest inside the house realized he could no longer see the boy swimming and went outside to check. He allegedly found the child floating face down in the pool near an overturned pool float.
Witnesses pulled the boy from the water and began CPR while another guest called 911. On the 911 call, someone can reportedly be heard repeatedly yelling Farber’s name trying to wake her, while another person can be heard saying, “she’s passed out drunk.”
The homeowner told officers they found Farber asleep in the patio chair, surrounded by empty beer cans, while the boy remained unresponsive in the water. When she finally came to, Farber reportedly realized her son was in critical condition.
Emergency responders performed life-saving measures on the boy before rushing him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Farber’s Statements and Arrest
Police say that as officers and EMS arrived, Farber attempted to throw away the empty beer cans. She later told officers at the hospital that she “must have fallen asleep” but didn’t know for how long, and reportedly told them, “this is all my fault,” without elaborating further.
Officers obtained a search warrant to draw her blood for alcohol and drug testing; those results are still pending. While at the hospital, police say Farber became belligerent and spit on a police sergeant after officers declined to remove her handcuffs.
Farber was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail Saturday night on a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death. She’s being held on a $25,000 cash bond, with a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
A Similar Incident in 2023
This isn’t the first time Farber has been arrested while intoxicated and responsible for a young child. In 2023, police say a family member found her drunk while caring for an infant. According to that report, Farber attempted to take the baby for a walk in a stroller, lost her balance, and passed out on the ground. When she woke up, she reportedly threatened the family member who had stepped in to hold and feed the child. Farber fought back and spit at officers during that arrest as well. It’s not clear whether the infant involved in the 2023 incident was the same child who died Saturday.
What Happens Next
Farber’s neglect charge carries the possibility of significant prison time in Indiana, though prosecutors have not yet detailed the full scope of the case ahead of Wednesday’s hearing. Toxicology results from her blood draw are expected to play a central role once they’re returned, and the Evansville Police Department’s investigation into the full circumstances of the drowning remains ongoing.
