UNION TOWNSHIP, NJ — Authorities in northern New Jersey say two young brothers likely scaled a fence and drowned in a neighbor’s pool while their mother slept.
Now, officials are considering whether to press neglect charges against the boys’ mother.
Union Township police pulled 3-year-old Kendell Francois and his 5-year-old brother, Kenley, from the bottom of the pool. They were pronounced dead at a hospital at 8:17 p.m. Thursday.
Police Director Dan Zieser tells The Star-Ledger of Newark their mother had fallen asleep just after 3 p.m. and the children were missing when she awoke at 6:45 p.m.
Zieser says the neighbor did not realize the children had gotten into the pool.
Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow says while foul play isn’t suspected, officials are investigating whether there’s evidence of neglect.
“Anytime there’s a pool accident, you have to look into if there’s any neglect by anyone,” Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said Thursday night.
With AP and NEWSCORE