Special needs child drowned in pool

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police said a 4-year-old special needs girl has died following a drowning accident.

Police received a call around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 21 about a missing child, identified as Mary Iturbe, on Lakewood Drive North.

“When we responded, we discovered a parent that said that they had a 4-year-old child that had wandered from the house,” said Mobile Police Corporal Christopher Levy.

A neighbor's housekeeper said the father and police searched the neighborhood for the girl.

“We began searching the area. (We) located the child who had fallen in to a swimming pool a few houses down,” said Levy, “It was one of our officers that located the child in the pool.”

EMS transported the girl to providence hospital, where police said she died.

The home where the girl was found has a gated entrance to the pool area.

Police would not comment on how the girl gained access to the backyard.

Residents were not at the home where the girl was found.

“It's my understanding that the girl may have some special needs. I'm not real sure of the exact details on that, but I believe she is some sort of special needs child,” said Levy.

“It's probably going to be just a tragic accident,” said Levy.

Police said they will continue to investigate, but do not expect any criminal charges to come out of this tragic incident.