Kissimmee, Florida – A family vacation in central Florida ended in tragedy early Saturday morning when a 20-month-old girl drowned in a backyard hot tub at a rented Airbnb home, leading to the arrest of her father on serious criminal charges, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Nice Court in Kissimmee just after 3:30 a.m. following a report of an unresponsive child. First responders attempted life-saving measures before rushing the toddler to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead roughly an hour later.
What deputies say happened
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, investigators interviewed the child’s father, Reynard Tyrone Hough, age 33, of Washington, D.C., who admitted to drinking alcohol and ingesting two different types of unknown narcotics earlier in the night.
Hough told detectives that sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., he entered the master bedroom of the rental home and saw the child’s mother asleep alongside another infant. He said the toddler was awake and wanted to be with him, so he picked her up and went outside to the backyard hot tub.
Investigators say Hough reported holding the child in his arms while sitting in the hot tub, which had an approximate depth of 37 inches. At some point, he allegedly fell asleep for about 20 minutes.
Hough told detectives he woke up when he felt his daughter’s head drop and immediately realized something was wrong because her body felt limp.
Emergency response and critical delay
After realizing the child was unresponsive, Hough ran inside the home to alert the child’s mother. However, according to deputies, he did not tell her that they had been in the hot tub or that the child may have drowned.
The child’s mother called 911. When paramedics and deputies arrived, they found the toddler unresponsive and foaming at the mouth, according to the arrest affidavit. Despite emergency medical efforts, the child could not be saved.
The incident occurred while the family was staying at the Airbnb during a vacation.
Conditions raised concern for investigators
In the arrest affidavit, detectives highlighted several factors that raised serious concerns about Hough’s actions and judgment that night.
“Hough was unable to provide any reasonable explanation as to why he took his 1-year-old child, who could not swim, into a hot tub outside the residence,” investigators wrote.
The affidavit also notes that the incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m., while the outdoor temperature was around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and while Hough admitted he was still feeling the effects of alcohol and drugs.
Investigators emphasized that the toddler was unable to swim, and that hot tubs pose heightened risks for young children due to water depth, temperature, and lack of safety barriers.
Criminal charges filed
Based on the investigation, deputies arrested Hough on multiple felony charges, including:
- Aggravated manslaughter of a child
- Child neglect with great bodily harm
Hough is currently being held at the Osceola County Jail and is being held without bond, jail records show.
Safety concerns around hot tubs and young children
Law enforcement officials and child safety experts have long warned that hot tubs are particularly dangerous for infants and toddlers. Unlike pools, hot tubs often lack fences, covers, or alarms, and their smaller size can create a false sense of safety.
Young children can lose consciousness quickly in warm water, especially if left unattended or held by an impaired adult. Even brief lapses in supervision can have fatal consequences.
Authorities stress that children should never be taken into hot tubs without constant, sober adult supervision, and that infants and toddlers are safest when kept completely away from hot tubs and spas.
Investigation ongoing
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Detectives are reviewing all evidence, including statements, toxicology results, and the timeline leading up to the incident.
No additional arrests have been announced, and officials have not released further details about the Airbnb property or whether safety features were present.
A tragic reminder
What was meant to be a family getaway ended in irreversible loss, leaving a young child dead and a father facing decades in prison. Authorities say the case underscores the deadly risks of impaired caregiving and the importance of strict water safety practices, especially when children are involved.
The case will proceed through the Florida court system as prosecutors review the evidence and determine next legal steps.
If you or someone you know has experienced a similar tragedy or has thoughts on child water safety, share your experiences in the comments below.
