VALRICO, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) – Family members in Florida had to jump into action when a mother allegedly tried to drown her three young children at a community pool.
The mother, identified as 24-year-old Shaniece Willingham, is now facing attempted murder charges.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a call at 1:28 a.m. Wednesday at a community pool on Sacramento Street.
Deputies said they found Willingham on the pool deck. Family members had already intervened, pulling the children – ages 8 months, 2 years and 3 years old – from the water and taking them to a nearby home.
The sheriff’s office said Willingham left her parents’ home with the children following an argument. Shortly after, she began posting videos to Instagram saying she was going to harm herself and her children.
Alerted by the videos, family rushed to the pool and saw Willingham throw the children into the water before jumping in herself and holding the children underwater.
They immediately intervened, deputies said, removing everyone from the pool.
The children were not injured.
Willingham was taken into custody under a Baker Act, jail records show. She is facing three counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The Baker Act permits the involuntary examination of someone for up to 72 hours if there is reason to believe they have a mental illness and are a danger to themselves or others, are unable to care for themselves.
“This decision was not a cry for help, it was a deliberate act of cruelty,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Mental health challenges may provide an explanation, but there is no excuse, no justification. These children were failed by their own mother, and it is only by the quick actions of their family that they are alive today.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.