Caretaker arrested after Charlotte teen drowns in a bathtub
Police arrested a caretaker in the bathtub drowning of a 17-year-old Charlotte girl who had “severe” mental and physical disabilities, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Officers found the teen just after 1 p.m. Friday after responding to a call for service at a home in the 9200 block of Ligon Court in the University City area, police said in a news release.
Charlotte firefighters and Medic first responders performed CPR on the teen and took her to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center, where she died just after 6 p.m., according to the CMPD release.
Police have not released the teen’s name.
The teen lived at the home with her paid caretaker, 41-year-old Nikiya Meeks, police said. Officers interviewed Meeks, then arrested her on a charge of patient abuse involving culpably negligent conduct causing death.
Meeks was released Saturday morning after posting bail.
Police ask anyone with information to call the CMPD homicide unit at 704-432-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600