Oregon Couple Arrested for Drowning Child in Bathtub

Noelle Watkins died shortly after medics arrived on scene.

Police in Independence, Oregon have arrested two people in connection with the drowning death of a 2-year-old child earlier this year. Image: Salem-News.com File

(INDEPENDENCE, Ore. ) - Police in Independence have arrested two people in connection with the drowning death of a 2-year-old child earlier this year.

Lt. Rick Igou says 26-year-old Rebecca Watkins, and 26-year-old Codey Campbell, both of Independence, were arrested in connection to the February 24 drowning death of Watkins' two-year-old daughter, Noelle Watkins.

Independence Police Department Detective Sarah Scharf and Sgt. Juventino Banuelos investigated this case with the assistance of the Polk County District Attorney's Office, Polk County Medical Examiner's Office and the Polk County Department of Human Services.

On August 6, the information, including interviews, crime lab results, and medical examiner results, were presented before a Polk County Grand Jury, and the two were indicted for Manslaughter in the First Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Minor and Child Neglect in the Second Degree.

On February 24 at about 6:51 p.m., medics from the Polk County Fire District #1 and officers from the Independence Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call of a two year old female found unconscious in a bathtub.

Noelle Watkins was pronounced dead later that evening.