Mom on MySpace when toddler drowns, police say

By JOSH BARLEY
Scripps Howard News Service
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

A 22-year-old woman was arrested in the negligent bathtub death of her 19-month-old son while she was on the social network MySpace, according to police.

A criminal case has been building against Nickolas Doidge's mother, Shawna Doidge, since his drowning death on April 19. Police believe Doidge was on MySpace when she heard the calls of Nickolas' 2-year-old brother from the bathtub. She attempted CPR, called a neighbor, and then called 911, according to police reports.

"The mother had essentially left the 19-month-old victim, Nickolas, and his 2-year-old brother in the bath tub alone for several minutes while she sat at her computer at the other end of the house," according to Mason County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Dean Byrd.

The investigation, involving the sheriff's office and Child Protective Services, concluded Doidge's behavior was "consistent with neglect," Byrd said.

Nickolas Doidge was taken to Mason General Hospital then transported to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, where he remained on life support until his death six days after the incident.