Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A Virginia woman has been arrested in connection with the death of a 3-year-old child in Chester County earlier this month, according to local authorities.

Imani Lewis, 28, of Richmond, Virginia, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children after the child, whom she was caring for as a nanny, was found dead in a pond at Wilson Farm Park on September 2, 2024. Lewis was arrested on Friday by Tredyffrin Township Police and arraigned with bail set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 26.

Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe called the incident “a sad and tragic case we all wish never happened.” Tredyffrin Police Chief Michael Beaty added, “This is a devastating death for the victim’s family. Our entire community has felt the effects of it.”

According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Wilson Farm Park at around 6:49 p.m. on September 2, following a report of a missing 3-year-old child. The non-verbal child had been under Lewis’ supervision when she called 911 to report the disappearance. Officers soon located the child unresponsive in a stormwater retention pond near the park.

Emergency responders performed life-saving measures, but the child was pronounced dead. Investigators later determined that Lewis had been distracted by her cellphone, making calls and sending text messages while the child wandered off. Video surveillance confirmed that Lewis was using her phone and failed to adequately supervise the child at the time of the incident.

Lewis remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.