JONESBOROUGH, TN – A 31-year-old woman is facing a felony charge after authorities say she tried to drown a child in a backyard pool Wednesday afternoon, prompting a witness to physically intervene and pull the victim to safety.
Mikaylee Rae Beirne has been charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, neglect, or endangerment following the incident on Cochran Road, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were called to the home shortly before 5 p.m. after reports of a disturbance involving several children.
According to Sheriff Keith Sexton, Beirne was in the pool with multiple children while another adult was inside the home when the situation escalated.
Witness intervention stops incident
“One of the children came inside to alert the other adult that Beirne was forcing one child underwater,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the release. “The adult witness ran to the pool and demanded that Beirne release the child, which she did not. The witness grabbed Beirne and assisted the child out of the water.”
After removing the child from the pool, the witness gathered the other children and brought them inside before calling 911, authorities said.
Investigators say that before deputies arrived, another adult came to the residence and briefly encountered Beirne, who then left the scene in a vehicle.
Arrest and injuries reported
Deputies later located the child, who had minor injuries and bruising consistent with witness statements, according to officials. Beirne was found a short time later, taken into custody without incident, and transported to the Washington County Detention Center.
Authorities have not released the child’s age or gender and have not specified the relationship between the child and Beirne.
Court records show Beirne was booked on a $50,000 bond and made an initial court appearance Thursday. Information about her next court date was not immediately available.
