1-year-old drowned in bathtub while mother scrolled social media, prosecutor says

JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV/Gray News) - A pair of Wisconsin parents are facing charges after their 1-year-old child drowned in the bathtub while the mother allegedly scrolled social media.

The Rock County Sheriff’s Office received a report June 13 of a child that was not breathing and had possibly drowned in a bathtub. EMS members who responded to the scene attempted first aid measures. The child was taken to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

After an investigation, detectives determined there was cause to arrest the child’s parents, 27-year-old Rebecca Ambrose and 26-year-old Jason Christianson. The couple were arrested Sunday and were being held at the Rock County Jail.

Both face two counts of child neglect to a child under 6 years old, and Ambrose also faces one count of child neglect causing death.

A Rock County prosecutor alleged during Ambrose’s initial court appearance Monday that she put her 1-year-old child in a bathtub, turned on the water and went outside to scroll on TikTok and Snapchat. When she returned, around 30 minutes later, prosecutors said the water in the tub had overflowed.

Christianson was asleep at the time of the incident.

The prosecutor said Ambrose cooperated with law enforcement but allegedly changed her story multiple times.

During Christianson’s Monday hearing, the prosecutor said law enforcement who entered the family’s home described it as being in a “horrific state.” Police reported seeing a mound of soiled diapers, feces on the walls, bugs in the fridge and rotten food throughout the home.

Ambrose’s bond was set at $10,000, while a $1,000 cash bond was set for Christianson. Both parents are scheduled to have preliminary hearings July 13.