Affidavit reveals new details about twin deaths

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- One-year-old twins drowned in a bathtub Wednesday and their caregiver, Joan Marie Reyes de Jesus, 34, has been charged with two counts of injury to a child, a felony first degree , in relation to his death. Now, an affidavit has revealed new details about the tragedy.

According to an affidavit, on Oct. 16, Odessa Police Department investigators responded to a home in the 800 block of Humble Avenue after twins were found unresponsive in a bathtub; Emergency medical personnel also arrived at the scene and performed CPR on the twins as they were taken to Medical Center Hospital, but both girls were pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigators said de Jesus had been hired by the family to look after the girls while their parents, who work nights, slept during the day. The twins, whose names have been redacted by Big 2 News out of respect for the family, celebrated their first birthday just two days before they died.

While their parents slept, investigators said de Jesus placed the girls in the bathtub, left the water running and then left them alone in the room while he watched television. At some point, while the girls were bathing, de Jesus fell asleep and did not wake up until another member of the family, who had been sleeping after working the night, awoke to find the house flooded with water OPD said the family member went to find the water source and found the babies unconscious and floating in the tub.

OPD said the investigation into the incident is ongoing and more charges could be brought against the babysitter in the future. For now, de Jesus remained in the Ector County Law Enforcement Center on two counts of injury to a child, as well as a Lubbock count of forgery of a financial instrument, a state jail felony. Their bail has been set at a combined $1,000,000.

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