The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is still investigating how 2-year old Clayton Foskey got out of his home in Hudson around 7p.m. Wednesday night.
Law enforcement and neighbors searched all around the Verandas neighborhood, eventually finding the lifeless boy in a backyard pond where he drowned.
The boy’s mother, her two older children, and a man were in the home when Clayton disappeared.
“If anyone’s responsible for this, that this could have been prevented, they are going to be brought to justice,” said Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco.
According to the Department of Children and Families, Florida leads the nation in drowning deaths for children under five.
“Something that’s so much fun can also turn tragic,” said Cpl. Alan Wilkett.
Wilkett said nothing beats supervision when it comes to keeping children safe. But he also recommends gates or alarms if you have a pool.
And for about $10, an easy-to-install alarm can alert you if someone opens a door in your home, especially important in keeping curious toddlers from wandering away.
“Those door alarms are fairly inexpensive and powerful deterrents to a distraction that can happen in just a moment,” said Wilkett.
He said it’s also crucial for neighbors to keep an eye out for unsupervised kids who may be in danger.
“If there is a case where there is an unattended child or they don’t seem to be having the supervision they need, make that call and allow us to do a welfare check can be the difference between life and death,” said Wilkett.
Searchers found a small footprint near the water about 150 yards away from the toddler's home.
Foskey's body was then found in four feet of water.
