Drowning death could be headed to Philadelphia Grand Jury

A grand jury could be used in the case of a Philadelphia woman accused of leaving a child in her care to go to a casino.

7-year-old Isear Jeffcoat drowned in a pool in the 6600 block of North Eighth Street in June of 2012.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting he was enrolled in a daycare owned by Tianna Edwards at the time. Reportedly, she left the child with two of her daycare workers and went to Sugarhouse casino.

Edwards’ attorney Tariq El-Shabazz says his client should not have been arrested.

“While I think it’s first of all a very tragic situation, when you lose a life of anyone but especially a child, the question is whether or not it’s criminal,” said El-Shabazz. “I don’t believe that it is, it’s accident at best and that’s where we are in respect to this case.”

El-Shabazz says the case has been “sensationalized.” When asked if his client got a daycare license under false pretenses, as reported, he responded.

“What I do know is that she had a corporation and she was part of a corporation. There is nothing illegal with being part of a corporation.”

During a court appearance, Assistant District Attorney Lynn Nichols requested more time to decide whether to present the case to a grand jury.