Pool claims lives of cousins

The two toddlers wandered into the back yard alone and were found floating a few minutes later.

By MICHAEL SANDLER

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 15, 2001

PLANT CITY -- Benjamin Rodriguez looked at the swimming pool where his two grandsons, both less than 2 years old, drowned Saturday evening in what authorities are calling a tragic accident.

"When God wants someone . . ." he said remorsefully, his voice trailing off.

Juvencio Mendoza, 17 months, and Gegario Redding, 21 months, were cousins who lived together with their mothers, who are sisters, at 2005 Sparkman Road, a small house in rural Plant City east of Tampa.

On Saturday evening, Carmen Rodriguez, the 16-year-old mother of Juvencio, had just returned home and was caring for both boys, said Hillsborough sheriff's deputies. Juanita Catrett, 23, the other boy's mother, was at work.

Carmen Rodriguez thought Benjamin Rodriguez, her father and the boys' grandfather, was around back, but he wasn't. She began to wash the car.

"When the mother drove up, she thought the grandfather was around back and let them go," said sheriff's spokesman Harold Winsett.

That left the toddlers unsupervised for a few minutes outside the family's home. Though they could barely walk, the boys traveled from the front yard to the back, went through the fence gates, which officials say were left ajar, and fell in the pool.

At 7:25 p.m., Carmen Rodriguez walked around back and found the boys floating in the pool.

Deputies responded and tried to revive the boys. They were flown by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital, where both were pronounced dead upon arrival.

Winsett said deputies continue to investigate the accident, though no charges are expected. But he said they are certain the gates -- one a 6-foot wooden gate, the other a 5-foot metal gate -- were left ajar.

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental deaths among toddlers in Florida, according to local firefighters. Backyard pools are the most common place where these drownings occur.

On Sunday, family and friends drove from as far away as Georgia to be with the grieving family.

"There's big pain right now," Benjamin Rodriguez said, using what limited English he speaks.

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