Nanny charged in death of 3-year-old boy who drowned in Chester County pond

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Chester County District Attorney’s office says the nanny of a 3-year-old who drowned in a Tredyffrin Township pond earlier this month has been charged in the boy’s death.

Imani Lewis, 28, from Richmond, Virginia, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities say on Labor Day, Lewis was the caregiver to a 3-year-old nonverbal child at Wilson Farm Park.

According to charging documents, investigators say video from the park shows Lewis was distracted by her phone when she was supposed to be watching the child on a playground, about 100 yards from the pond.

She called 911 around 7 p.m. The child was found in the storm retention pond, which is not designed for swimming, boating or fishing. He was rushed to Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators say Lewis had made phone calls and sent text messages before, during, and after the child went missing.

Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said it’s a “sad, tragic case we all wish never happened.”