Mother accused of being drunk when 5-month-old drowns in PA hotel hot tub: DA

LEACOCK TWP., Pa. -- A Philadelphia woman is facing charges in the drowning death of her 5-month-old daughter at a hotel in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Diontae Nicole Beckett, 25, is accused of recklessly causing the infant's death on May 11.

She appeared in court on Wednesday, where she waived her preliminary hearing on charges of endangering the welfare of children and involuntary manslaughter, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.

Officials say Beckett was drunk when she allegedly put the baby in a spa tub at the hotel, where the little girl subsequently drowned and died.

During an interview with police, Beckett allegedly told officers that she had been consuming alcohol throughout the day and had taken her daughter swimming earlier in the afternoon before returning to their room at a hotel in Leacock Township.

Despite allegedly telling police that she never put the child in the spa tub, officials say pictures and video were found on her phone, showing the infant in the spa tub.

Surveillance video from the hotel also allegedly shows Beckett coming into the lobby, carrying the baby, "who appears lifeless in her arms," the DA said.

Several hotel guests then called 911 and tried life-saving measures before first responders arrived.

Officials say a chemical test of her breath also showed Beckett had a 0.149% blood alcohol content at the time.

Beckett was released from jail after posting $100,000 bail.