Mom Allegedly Took Selfies and Drugs While Toddler Was Drowning In Pond

An Alabama mother is alleged to have taken drugs and nude photos of herself as her toddler drowned in a pond.

The Eclectic Police Department said Marlena Murray, 29, was indicted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide on October 11, and that she turned herself in to officers on Tuesday.

According to NBC affiliate WSFA, her two-year-old son Josiah Meadors wandered off from a home and was later found unresponsive in a pond some 1,500 away on May 2.

Police told the network Murray had called 911 at about 5:11 p.m., about 15 minutes after her son had allegedly run off.

He was taken to a nearby hospital, but medical personnel were unable to save his life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an estimated 3,960 fatal drownings, including boating-related drownings, every year in the U.S.

The CDC added that more children aged between 1 and 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death, except birth defects.

It continued: "For children ages 1–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes."

Eclectic Police Department Detective Zack Lyles told WSFA that Murray claimed in a 911 call that she had been outside with her son before he ran off. Murray is alleged to have told police that she reached over for her son's cup when she noticed him chasing after his dog.

Lyles added Murray claimed she had seen where Josiah had ran to, but went in the opposite direction to get help before calling 911.

Lyles has challenged Murray's version of events and told the network the mother had been using illegal drugs and taking nude photographs of herself for solicitation as her son ran away.

He added: "This is something that is not OK."

Murray has since been indicted by an Elmore County grand jury and her bail has been set at $75,000. She has yet to make her appearance in court.

An obituary for Josiah, shared on legacy.com, described the was as "the King of all messes" who loved being outside, "all things dinosaurs," cheese puff and mashed potatoes. Josiah would have turned 3 on June 27.

Newsweek has contacted the Eclectic Police Department for comment.

In September, 30-year-old Erin Merdy was arrested after three of her children were found dead off the coast of Brooklyn's Coney Island. Authorities found Merdy at another beach not far from where the children were found, reportedly soaking wet.