Twins drown in bathtub, caretaker facing charges in Odessa

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- UPDATE: One year old twins in Odessa died Wednesday afternoon after their caretaker left them alone in a bathtub.

According to the Odessa Police Department responded to a home in the 800 block of Humble Avenue. At the scene, officers and medics found one year old twin who had drowned in a tub; both toddlers were taken to Medical Center Hospital, but both died after they arrived.

Detectives said 34-year-old Joan Reyes de Jesus, who’d been hired to take care of the twins, reportedly left the babies alone in the bathtub while she went to watch TV. Investigators said after some time, Reyes de Jesus fell asleep, and evidence showed about 30 minutes passed before family members realized the children were in the bathtub.

Reyes de Jesus has been charged with Injury to a Child, a Felony of the First Degree, and could be facing additional charges pending the ongoing investigation.

We would like to remind the public that we are still very early in this investigation. More charges may come as the investigation progresses.

The Odessa Police Department is conducting a “very serious” investigation in the 800 block of Humble Avenue, off S Dixie Boulevard.

Witnesses at the scene have said the area has been blocked off by crime scene tape and that police have been on the scene for several hours, while others have described the scene as an “active homicide investigation”. However, that detail has not been confirmed by police officials.

We’ve reached out to the City for more details and will update this story as more information becomes available.

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