Ormond Beach mother arrested after toddler drowns in pond.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

Aziryh Santiago, 3, of Ormond Beach, drowned on Sunday, April 23, 2023, in the retention pond at the San Marco Apartment Complex after being left alone for eight hours.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., officers from the Ormond Beach Police Department were alerted to a drowning incident involving a toddler. Despite the immediate arrival of officers and personnel from the Ormond Beach Fire Department who attempted life-saving measures, the child could not be revived. Officers launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of Myra Santiago, the 22-year-old mother of the child.

According to the police report, Santiago had failed to secure the front door of her third-floor apartment, despite knowing that the child could easily open it, and Aziryh left the apartment while his mother was asleep. Santiago reported to the police that around 6 a.m., the child had come into her room to ask for his tablet, as he did every day before going back to his room. However, just before 7 a.m., a neighbor's security camera caught Aziryh playing alone outside while carrying a tablet with a blue case before running towards the pond, which was not visible from the camera.

Further examination of the police report revealed that Myra Santiago attempted to convince a neighbor to lie to the authorities, claiming she had been watching the child. Santiago sent a Facebook message to the neighbor, expressing her anxiety and asking her to corroborate her story, saying she would provide details later.

The neighbor denied ever watching the child and provided the police with screenshots. When confronted about the messages, Santiago responded, “Why are they asking things they already knew?” before asking to leave.

Santiago faces charges of aggravated manslaughter and neglect of a child.