James Dawson, Lepanto, Arkansas father charged with manslaughter after leaving 11-month-old son unattended in bath only for boy to drown after ‘becoming distracted’ and ‘slipping his mind.’
An Arkansas man has been accused of ‘inadvertently’ causing the death of his 11-month-old son after leaving the boy unattended in a bath only for the infant to drown.
James Dawson, 31, of Lepanto, Poinsett County, was arrested Feb. 3, about four months after the incident, according to the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office. Upon his arrest, the father was charged with manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a minor in connection with the death of his 11-month-old boy.
The father was released from jail less than an hour after his arrest according to the Jonesboro Sun.
Arkansas dad said he became distracted with his two other ‘arguing’ children
Court records allege on the day of the infant’s death, October 2, 2025, Dawson placing his infant son in a bathtub only for the father to become distracted by two other children who were arguing elsewhere in the home according to a probable cause affidavit cited by both the Jonesboro Sun and KAIT.
At the time, the children’s mother had briefly stepped out of the house to feed a dog. When she returned home, she was greeted by Dawson and two other children, who asked her to fix them something to eat. Just a few minutes later, she heard water running in the bathroom and asked Dawson why the faucet was on.
Poinsett County deputies wrote in the affidavit that, according to the mother, ‘Mr. Dawson had put (the child) in the bathroom to give him a bath, he put the plug in and turned the water on.’
Investigators determine crime had occurred but it was an accident
‘She said Mr. Dawson had left [the room] because (the two juveniles) were arguing, screaming and crying. After she got home, she said she heard the water running and she asked Mr. Dawson why the water was running and Mr. Dawson said, ‘Oh, my God, the baby’s in there.’’
The mother told authorities that she ran to the bathroom, where she found their child face down and limp in the bathtub. Dawson began performing CPR, and she called 911, they added.
CPR was performed, but the child was taken to a hospital and died the following day. Deputies executed a search warrant at the home, and Ring doorbell footage was used to confirm the timeline of events.
Investigators said that a recliner that Dawson was sitting in at the time of the incident was on the opposite side of the house from the bathtub.
According to investigators, Dawson told law enforcement it ‘slipped’ his mind that the baby was in the bathtub because he was focused on the other children, according to arresting documents.
The mother recalled Dawson walking outside the bathroom, saying, ‘It’s all my fault’ and that he ‘forgot,’ according to the affidavit.
While investigators determined a crime had occurred, they said it was an accident and it was unlikely the father would be face the full wrath of a potential 16-year-jail sentence.
The case remains pending in Poinsett County court.
