PRAIRIEVILLE, LA — A Louisiana babysitter has been charged with negligent homicide after a 3-year-old boy drowned in her backyard pool and remained underwater for approximately 20 minutes before she retrieved him, according to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Joann Johnson, 37, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail following the May 18 death of Ian Perez at her unlicensed in-home daycare on Roy Rogers Road. The incident has prompted authorities to emphasize the critical importance of constant supervision around water, particularly as summer approaches. Johnson turned herself in after investigators secured an arrest warrant based on surveillance video that captured the tragic sequence of events.
The drowning occurred around 3:50 p.m. on May 18 when deputies and first responders were called to Johnson’s residence in Prairieville, a census-designated area about 20 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed two young children in Johnson’s care playing near the swimming pool in the backyard without any safety equipment or life jackets. The video captured Ian falling into the pool and subsequently drowning, with the child remaining unconscious in the water for approximately 20 minutes before Johnson was observed retrieving him. “One of the hardest parts of watching that video is seeing little Ian struggle for his life for several minutes,” said Donovan Jackson, public information officer with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. “And the second hardest part of watching this is seeing him in that pool about 20 minutes after he had drowned. For over 20 minutes, there was no supervision.”
Emergency medical responders attempted lifesaving measures at the scene before airlifting Ian to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The investigation revealed that Johnson was operating an unlicensed daycare at the time of the incident, which Jackson described as more of a family friend arrangement rather than a formal licensed facility. Authorities determined that the extended period without supervision constituted clear negligence rather than a momentary lapse in attention. “We understand that accidents happen,” Jackson explained. “You may lose sight of them for a minute or two, maybe five minutes, but for over 20 minutes, that is a problem, and that is clear negligence.” The sheriff’s office has not disclosed whether other children were present at the daycare during the incident or provided details about Johnson’s previous experience caring for children.
Pool-related drownings remain the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The tragedy in Prairieville highlights ongoing safety concerns surrounding home daycares and backyard pools, particularly when proper safety measures are not implemented. Experts consistently emphasize that drowning can occur quickly and silently, making constant adult supervision essential whenever children are near water. The case bears similarities to other recent daycare drowning incidents, including a San Jose case where daycare operators Nina Fathizadeh and Shahin Gheblehshenas were recently sentenced to 13 years and 8 years in prison respectively after two toddlers drowned in their backyard pool when a safety gate was left propped open. In that incident, the children were also left unsupervised for several minutes while the caregiver attended to other tasks.
Johnson was released from the Ascension Parish Jail the same day as her arrest after posting a $100,000 bond set by the court. Under Louisiana law, she faces two to 10 years in prison if convicted of negligent homicide, with the victim being under 10 years old. The charge reflects authorities’ determination that her failure to provide adequate supervision constituted criminal negligence rather than an unfortunate accident. Court records do not immediately indicate whether Johnson has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Ascension Parish District Attorney’s Office is expected to present the case to a grand jury in the coming weeks, though no specific timeline has been announced for further legal proceedings.
The incident has deeply affected the Prairieville community and prompted renewed calls for vigilance around water safety. “No parent should have to deal with the loss of their child, especially when that loss is due to someone else’s negligence,” Jackson stated. Local authorities are using the tragedy as an opportunity to educate the public about pool safety measures, particularly for those who care for children in their homes. “If you’re going to have a pool and have children around that pool, especially children who are not yours, you better make sure you have every safety measure in place,” Jackson warned. The sheriff’s office emphasized that proper pool safety should include secure fencing, safety covers, constant adult supervision, and readily available rescue equipment. Organizations such as the American Red Cross and CDC provide comprehensive guidelines for water safety and CPR training to help prevent similar tragedies.
The investigation into Ian Perez’s death remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare their case against Johnson. Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the unlicensed daycare operation and whether additional safety violations may have contributed to the tragedy. The case serves as a stark reminder of the life-and-death responsibilities that come with caring for young children, particularly around potentially dangerous environments like backyard swimming pools.
