20-Year-Old Father Charged After Leaving Infant Daughter Floating in Bathtub While He Scrolled on His Phone in Another Room

A 20-year-old Kentucky father was recently charged with wanton endangerment and criminal abuse after he left his infant daughter unattended in a bathtub as he used his phone in another room.

According to Cleveland 19 News, the 20-year-old identified as Steffan Mederious is accused of leaving the infant alone in the tub for about five minutes.

Covington police responded to reports of an unresponsive infant at Latonia Terrace Apartments on the 100 block of Ashland Drive in Latonia, Kentucky, following reports of an unresponsive infant.

According to the outlet, Mederious returned to the bathroom after leaving the baby unattended and found her floating in the bathtub. He took the child to a relative's home, where the relative called 911.

Rob Sanders, the Kenton County commonwealth’s attorney, said the 20-year-old had fled the residence when the police arrived on the scene, “and was found hiding at a nearby relative’s residence.”

“So he didn’t stick around to help police and firefighters and he didn’t respond to the hospital to see how the baby was doing. He felt it more important to run away from the scene,” he added.

The baby was immediately taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and is expected to fully recover, the Covington police confirmed.

“We take children’s safety very seriously in Kenton County. We don’t expect parents to be perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they can’t do things that place their child at the risk of serious injury or death or there’s going to be consequences for it,” Sanders added.

Social media users responded with prayers for the infant, while others criticized the young father, citing his age.

“I mean it’s awful what happened to that child and hopefully this young man learned a lesson but he was def neglectful and I wldnt trust him alone again wirh the child but I’m sure his age played a big part and lack of common sense but atleast he got the child help pretty fast and she’s gonna make a full recovery god is good,” one user noted.

Another user wrote, "Sadly he likely didn't have good role models either. The television replaced parenting back in the '80s and social media is at their fingertips 24 hours a day now. It used to be family, church, scouting, after school sports. Now it's influncers [sic] and narcissist [sic] seeking followers."

“For being a very young father, he totally lacks responsibility. His brain is geared toward his phone. You never leave a baby alone in bathtub!!” another user stated.

Another user voiced similar views, stating, “If you can’t get off your phone to give your infant a bath then don’t be a parent."

“I feel so sorry for kids these days they no longer have parents with common sense," another Facebook user remarked.

A preliminary hearing took place on May 27, and the case is expected to be presented before a grand jury.