John Jefferson
Flor Ontiveros (Oklahoma County Detention Center)
An Oklahoma woman is in jail after she allegedly tried to drown her young daughter and nephew, according to police.
Flor Esthela Ontiveros, 34, is facing two counts of child abuse from the June 27 incident in Oklahoma City, court records say. Local Fox affiliate KOKH obtained a probable cause arrest affidavit filed Wednesday that detailed the incident at Will Rogers Aquatic Center.
Police were reportedly called to the pool after a lifeguard found a boy and girl unresponsive. The lifeguard was able to revive the kids, and first responders took them to the hospital where they received treatment. The children are expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
When detectives interviewed Ontiveros, they reportedly noted she was “smiling and speaking calmly about the incident.” Witnesses also told cops it appeared she was smiling as she was holding the children underwater, the affidavit reportedly said.
She allegedly held her nephew’s “entire body and head underneath the water and multiple people were yelling at her.” Ontiveros’ 4-year-old daughter reportedly told detectives that her mother “pushed her face underwater” and tried to “force” her to swallow water.
In an interview a few months after the incident, she allegedly denied trying to drown her daughter and nephew but said it is something she could have done. Records show cops arrested Ontiveros on Aug. 21.
She remains in the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a $250,000 bond, records show. Formal charges were filed on Aug. 30.
The pool is operated by the City of Oklahoma City. Officials credited the lifeguards with saving the two children’s lives in what was a busy day at the pool.
“Lifeguards jumped into action with the help of a patron as well, and got those kids out of the water,” Mason Williams, unit operations supervisor for the city, told local CBS affiliate KOTV. “Their training kicked in. They get the CPR and the AED, the first aid, all of that training.”
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