Texas Mother Accused of Trying to Drown Three Children After Possible NyQuil Poisoning

LIBERTY COUNTY, TX — A Texas mother is under investigation after allegedly attempting to drown her three children in a pond near the family’s home following suspicions she had poisoned them with NyQuil, according to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a 911 call just before 6 a.m. Monday after the children’s father told dispatchers his wife had given the children NyQuil and tried to drown them, Capt. David Meyers said. The father reported hearing commotion outside before finding his children in distress and pulling them from the water.

The children — a 15-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old boy — were transported to a hospital along with their mother. Meyers said the mother and the 11-year-old were listed in critical condition, while the other two children were stable.

Authorities said the mother was still in the water when deputies arrived and was unresponsive. The 11-year-old regained consciousness after being pulled out by her father.

Investigators said it remains unclear if the children ingested NyQuil or any other substance. Meyers said the claim was being investigated, but no confirmation had been made.

The sheriff’s office has been working with Child Protective Services and a hospital social worker. Officials said none of the children were currently enrolled in school, and the family had lived in the home since 2017.

Meyers said both parents were being questioned and that the father had been cooperative. He added it was too early to determine if the case would be investigated as attempted murder.