A California mother now faces life in prison after her blood alcohol level reached more than three times the legal limit while her two-year-old daughter drowned in their backyard pool, but the shocking evidence of what she was actually doing during those fatal 45 minutes reveals a level of negligence so extreme that prosecutors successfully argued it constituted murder.
Story Snapshot
- Kelle Anne Brassart convicted of second-degree murder after daughter Daniellé drowned while she messaged men on dating apps
- Blood alcohol content measured 0.246 percent, more than three times California’s legal driving limit
- Surveillance footage contradicted her claims of being wheelchair-bound and unable to rescue her child
- Court had previously ordered her to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings; child’s father explicitly warned against drinking while supervising
- Faces 15 years to life in prison at February 5 sentencing
The Fatal 45 Minutes That Changed Everything
On September 12, 2025, Daniellé Pires was found floating lifeless in the backyard pool of her Turlock home. While Kelle Anne Brassart called 911 reporting the drowning, investigators would soon uncover surveillance footage revealing the devastating truth. For approximately 45 minutes before the tragedy, Brassart remained in her bedroom messaging men on dating apps while her toddler wandered outside unattended.
The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s office didn’t treat this as a simple accident. Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa painted a picture of deliberate indifference that shocked the courtroom: “This is a case where the defendant knew, and she didn’t care. She didn’t care that her daughter was at risk; she didn’t care that she wasn’t watching her, because all she wanted to do was be selfish and get drunk.”
When Negligence Becomes Murder
The prosecution’s decision to pursue second-degree murder charges rather than negligent homicide represents a significant legal escalation. District Attorney Jeff Laugero explained their reasoning: “She not only failed in her duty to care for her child, but she did it in a way that was so reckless and indifferent to human life that her conduct amounted to second-degree murder.” This distinction carries profound sentencing implications—transforming potential years into decades or life imprisonment.
The evidence supporting implied malice was overwhelming. Brassart’s father, Daniel Pires, had explicitly warned her against drinking while supervising their daughter. Court records show she had been previously ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, indicating prior legal intervention. She had also received parenting education specifically addressing pool safety and toddler supervision, yet failed to implement basic safeguards.
The Web of Deception Unravels
Brassart’s defense crumbled when video evidence contradicted her central claim. She told investigators she was confined to a wheelchair due to a leg injury and physically unable to rescue her daughter. However, surveillance footage showed her walking and standing without assistance prior to the drowning. Additional evidence documented her driving and attending nail appointments in the days before the incident—activities impossible for someone truly wheelchair-bound.
Police discovered empty liquor bottles scattered throughout the home, painting a picture of chronic alcohol abuse. The timing of her intoxication wasn’t coincidental—it represented a pattern of prioritizing personal desires over parental responsibilities. The dating app messages during those crucial 45 minutes symbolized the ultimate abandonment of maternal duty.
A Precedent That Demands Accountability
The conviction establishes important legal precedent for cases involving extreme parental negligence combined with substance abuse. Unlike comparable cases such as Nadia Bashir’s 2012 negligent homicide conviction in Arizona, California prosecutors successfully argued that documented indifference to child safety constitutes implied malice worthy of murder charges. This approach reflects a growing judicial recognition that some forms of neglect cross the threshold from accident into criminal intent.
As Brassart awaits sentencing on February 5, 2026, the case serves as a stark reminder that parental responsibilities cannot be suspended for personal gratification. The jury’s verdict sends an unmistakable message: when mothers choose substances and dating apps over their children’s lives, society will hold them accountable with the full force of the law.
Sources:
The Independent – California Mom Murder Toddler Drowned
Maricopa County Attorney’s Office – Civic Alerts
Dayton 247 Now – Mother Intoxicated Using Dating Apps