Mother arrested after 2-year-old boy dies in Placentia, police say

PLACENTIA, Calif. (KABC) -- A mother has been arrested after her 2-year-old son died while she was giving him a bath in Placentia.

Officers responded to a home regarding a call of a child who was unresponsive shortly after 9 p.m. Monday, according to the Placentia Police Department.

First responders arrived and found the child in the bathroom, and took the boy to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The child's mother, 40-year-old Melissa Lynn Beisel, was also taken to the hospital with self-inflicted wounds.

Investigators say Beisel was giving the boy a bath in a walk-in shower using a plastic storage bin and walked away to get some soap. When she returned about two minutes later, she found the child face down and unresponsive in the bin.

She tried giving her son CPR, but when that didn't work she harmed herself with a sharp object.

According to police, Beisel stayed in the bathroom with the child for about six hours before a family member found them and called 911.

Placentia police Lt. Joe Connell said Beisel didn't attempt to seek help.

After she was discharged from the hospital, the mother was taken into custody for involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing great bodily injury.

Police said the father and other children were at home at the time of the drowning. The father was questioned but there is no sign he had any involvement, police said.

Four other children also lived in the house. They are currently with their father.

Police said they haven't found a history of child abuse at the home. The investigation is ongoing.