Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Boy, 2, who drowned was subject of neglect probe

Drowning location

A Child Protective Services report released Thursday shows that a 2-year-old boy who drowned Sunday was the subject of a medical neglect case in 2009.

The boy, identified as Geno Valerio of Las Vegas, drowned in the swimming pool at a home in the 4800 block of Santa Barbara Street. Officers responded to the home at 7:51 p.m. Sunday after the boy's grandmother called police to report the drowning.

Metro Police spokesman Marcus Martin said the boy was thought to be in the bathtub but somehow ended up in the pool. It appears the boy had been in the pool for a while, Martin said.

The previous case involving alleged negligent treatment and medical neglect of Valerio was filed April 2, 2009. Authorities began to investigate the boy's parents after suspicions arose that they might not be following up with the boy's medical care, authorities said.

Medical services assisted and hired an in-house nurse to make regular visits. The nurse helped to teach the parents skills needed to care for the boy, said Christine Skorupski, spokeswoman for CPS. The investigation was closed June 7, 2009. Other details about the 2009 case weren't released.

After the drowning, authorities said, a safety assessment was conducted and other children in the household were removed from the home and placed into protective custody.

CPS and Metro Police are conducting separate investigations of the drowning. Metro Police said today they hope to release more details in the case this afternoon regarding their investigation and possible criminal charges.

CORRECTION: This story was changed to correct that a nurse was hired to make frequent visits, not live with the family. | (May 6, 2010)

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