Mikaylee Beirne, 31, is charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect
Credit: Washington County Sheriff’s Office
NEED TO KNOW
- Mikaylee Beirne, 31, is charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect after allegedly trying to drown a child on July 15
- A child who witnessed the incident ran to get help from another adult at the pool who was able to overpower Beirne as she refused to release the alleged victim
- Beirne allegedly left the scene but was picked up by deputies later that night and is now being held on a $50,000 bond
Tragedy was averted at an afternoon pool party in Tennessee when one child stepped in to get help after witnessing a woman try to drown another child, authorities allege.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 15, according to a news release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were called to the scene and spoke with multiple witnesses who identified the suspect as 31-year-old Mikaylee Rae Beirne.
She had already left the home by that time, per the release, but deputies were eventually able to track her down and take her into custody, where she was subsequently charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect.
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According to the release, a group of children were left alone in the pool with Beirne around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“One of the children came inside to alert the other adult that Beirne was forcing one child under water,” the release states. “The adult witness ran to the pool and demanded that Beirne release the child, which she did not. The witness grabbed Beirne and assisted the child out of the water.”
Once the child was safe from harm, the adult moved all the children inside the home and called law enforcement.
The sheriff’s department said that another adult arrived and “had a brief interaction” with Beirne before she left in her vehicle and deputies arrived on the scene.
Deputies observed that the child had minor injuries and bruising consistent with the alleged attack described to them by eyewitnesses, per the release.
Beirne is now being held on a $50,000 bond at the Washington County Detention Center.
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