Philadelphia Mother Charged After 5‑Month‑Old Drowns in Lancaster County Hotel Spa Tub

Leacock Township, Pa. — On May 11, a tragedy unfolded in a modest hotel’s spa tub that left a 5‑month‑old baby dead and a 25‑year‑old mother facing serious criminal charges. Diontae Nicole Beckett, a Philadelphia resident, has been accused of recklessly causing her daughter’s death.

According to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, Beckett was allegedly intoxicated—her breath test showed a blood‑alcohol level of .149%—when she placed the infant in the hotel’s hot‑water spa tub. The toddler, described by officials as “lifeless” in surveillance footage, slipped beneath the water and could not be revived.

Beckett told police she had been drinking “all day,” and that she and the baby had gone swimming earlier that afternoon before returning to their room. She later denied ever putting the child in the tub. Yet investigators say photos and video stored on her phone clearly depict the infant sitting in the spa, and hotel cameras captured the mother carrying a limp‑looking baby into the lobby.

Guests who witnessed the scene immediately called 911 and attempted basic life‑saving measures while first responders rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, the baby was pronounced dead at the hospital.

In court on Wednesday, Beckett waived a preliminary hearing and now faces two counts: endangering the welfare of a child and involuntary manslaughter. After posting $100,000 bail, she was released from jail while the case proceeds.

The incident has shocked the local community, prompting renewed calls for stricter safety measures in hotel spas and more awareness about the dangers of alcohol‑related negligence around children.