EAST HAVEN, CT – A father from Connecticut has been arrested following the drowning of his seven-month-old son last year, authorities announced. Angel Marcus Rodriguez, 29, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, and two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment.
The charges stem from the tragic death of Angel Josiah Rodriguez, along with the potential danger faced by his three-year-old brother. The incident took place on the evening of Oct. 6, 2024, at a residence on Redfield Avenue in East Haven, part of the New Haven metropolitan area.
According to police, Rodriguez admitted to leaving his children unattended in the bathtub while he went to another bathroom because the toilet in the children’s bathroom was malfunctioning. Initially uncertain about the duration of his absence, Rodriguez later estimated it to be about five minutes.
The infant was discovered face down in the water by his grandmother while his older brother was near him, playing with toy cars. “He just turned over,” the toddler reportedly told his grandmother when she entered the bathroom.
At the time of the incident, the baby could not sit upright on his own. Family members explained that he had been propped up in a bathing chair meant for newborns up to six months old. The grandmother quickly pulled the children from the tub and sought help from their father, who was found on his cellphone, according to reports.
The grandmother initiated CPR on the baby, which was subsequently continued by the children’s aunt, who responded to the commotion. Despite these efforts, the baby could not be revived.
The investigation uncovered varying accounts regarding the water level in the tub. The grandmother mentioned she had never seen the tub filled so high, suggesting it was usually only halfway up the bathing chair. Rodriguez, on the other hand, claimed he left the water running as a “trickle,” and it had only reached the baby’s feet when he left.
Detectives considered the possibility of interference with the water level, such as a plug in the drain or if the older child might have touched the faucet, but these inquiries remained unresolved.
In questioning, Rodriguez acknowledged he retrieved his phone from his bedroom after using the bathroom. He thought his call was brief, though his mother estimated it lasted at least 10 minutes. The conflicting details and the tragic outcome have left the family and investigators grappling with the events of the evening.
The local police department extended their condolences to the family and expressed gratitude to first responders and investigators. They voiced hope that the arrest would provide some measure of closure to those affected.
Rodriguez was taken into custody on Monday and is held at the New Haven Correctional Center with a bond set at $200,000.