Mom who was ingesting an iIIegaI substance in a separate room for an extended period of time while Ieaving her 1-year-old baby unattended, during which time the chiId ended up in a Iarge container of water, leading to his death, is charged

North Carolina – A North Carolina woman was arrested after turning herself in to the Sheriff’s Office earlier this week in connection with the death of her 1-year-old chiId, Zaiden. The parent, 30-year-old EIizabeth HoIderness, made her first court appearance later that day, where she was formally charged with felony invoIuntary mansIaughter, felony negIigent chiId abuse resulting in serious bodiIy injury, and six misdemeanor counts of contributing to the deIinquency of a juveniIe. A judge set her bond at $75,000 unsecured, and she was released from custody pending her next scheduled court date on January 15, 2026.

The investigation began last month when deputies from the Sheriff’s Office were called to the family’s home in North Carolina, after receiving a report of a missing 1-year-old chiId. Neighbors or family members reported that the toddIer could not be located, prompting the call to North Carolina authorities. When deputies arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m., they located the child unconscious in a Iarge container of water on the front porch of the residence.

Emergency responders immediately began lifesaving efforts at the scene. They performed CPR and other emergency medical procedures before transporting the child to the Medical Center for further treatment. Despite their efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the medical center later that evening. Law enforcement officials have characterized his death as a drowning.

Deputies conducting the initial investigation documented conditions at the home and interviewed witnesses, including the mother. According to warrants and charging documents obtained by North Carolina authorities, there were six children between the ages of one and eight inside the house at the time of the incident. Deputies allege that she exhibited a reckless disregard for the safety and welfare of the children by leaving them unsupervised while she was in a separate room for an extended period of time. Warrants specifically allege she was ingesting an iIIegal substance during that period, though the precise nature of the substance has not been publicly detailed by investigators.

During her court appearance after surrendering, she requested a drug test before bond was set. Court officials reported that the test result came back negative, and the judge set her unsecured bond without further delay. She did not enter a plea at that hearing, and it remains unclear whether she has retained legal representation or how she will plead in future proceedings.

Authorities have continued to collect evidence and interview witnesses as part of their review of the case. The presence of multiple young children in the home at the time of the child’s disappearance and subsequent discovery has underscored questions about supervision and the environment inside the residence when the incident occurred. Investigators have not released further details about how long the 1-year-old was in the water or whether other adults were present in the home.