PALM BAY, Fla. – A woman was arrested Thursday in connection with the drowning death of a 5-year-old girl in her care, Palm Bay police said.
Jacqueline Chiara Bjorndal, 22, told police she was babysitting Aubrey Alcott on Nov. 25, when she found the child in the pool.
The drowning happened at Bjorndal's home at Knecht Road NE in Palm Bay. Police said Bjorndal was smoking meth and marijuana while babysitting and let the child go outside to play with a pet pig.
"Alcohol and various drugs were involved in this incident," said Lt. Mike Bandish with Palm Bay Police.
It was about 20 minutes later when Bjorndal's roommate arrived and went to the backyard. He immediately saw a shadow in the deep end of the pool and pulled the girl out, police said.
The Palm Bay Police Department released a nearly six-minute 911 call from the incident, in which an operator provides instructions on how to perform CPR."We got a little girl who fell in the pool, and she's not breathing. Her lips are blue," the roommate said.
He told the operator he has no idea how long the child was underwater. The man can be heard relaying the CPR and chest compression instructions to Bjorndal as she takes over lifesaving efforts.
"Try to keep the mother calm, OK, but let those compressions and the CPR continue, OK?" the operator said.
The call ends when paramedics arrive.
Bjorndal is charged with aggravated manslaughter by neglect of a child, and she is held without bond in the Brevard County Jail.
Police said Aubrie's mother told Bjorndal not to let the girl anywhere near the pool.
"The mother knew that Aubrie couldn't swim and she didn't want her back by the pool," Bandish said.
Bjorndal is charged with aggravated manslaughter by neglect of a child.
A judge set her bond at $50,000 Thursday.
Additionally, the judge said she cannot watch anymore children and is not allowed to return to the house.
Bjorndal's next scheduled court appearance is her arraignment on Jan. 5.