Indianapolis mother of 3-year-old found in pond says his death was an accident
His loved ones said the 3-year-old chatty child was hardly ever quiet.
"He talked. From the time he got up in the morning to the time he went to sleep," his mother, Korie Bankhead, told IndyStar. "He was a vibe all the time and so full of life."
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified Ka'Mauri Williams as the boy who was found in a retention pond before being pronounced dead Aug. 17.
While people speculate online about what happened, his mother said the 3-year-old's death was an accident. Indianapolis doesn't require fencing around retention ponds.
Just before 7 p.m. Aug. 17, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called about a missing child at the Avalon Lake Apartments in the 5600 block of Wyckfield Way. Officers arrived while loved ones, including a neighbor, searched for the 3-year-old.
That neighbor found the boy unresponsive in the pond and performed CPR on him until help arrived.
He was taken to St. Vincent Hospital in critical condition before being pronounced dead. The Marion County Coroner's Office has not released his cause and manner of death.
Police are investigating and said detectives believe Williams' father was inside the apartment before Bankhead came home and realized the door was open and her son was gone. He was found a short time later.
"It was an accident," Bankhead said. "Accidents happen every day, and it's unfortunate that this one happened."
She said her eyes have been burning from crying and she hasn't slept or eaten since he died. She understands people have questions, but she said right now she needs support.
She wants to focus on remembering her son and holding on to what makes him who he was.
"My baby was smart," Bankhead said of her son, whose favorite show was Paw Patrol. "He knew his ABCs and 123s. He knew his colors. He was well-loved and taken care of."
The family loved music, and Bankhead said her son was always singing and dancing. Even if he didn't know a song's lyrics to sing or know the steps to a popular dance, he always figured something out. His loved ones said he was always the center of attention.
The family is hosting a balloon release for his Aug. 22, within the apartment complex.
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