Massachusetts

Grief-Stricken Mother Speaks After 5-Year-Old Son Drowns in Malden Pool

Jeremiah Joseph was found in a pool after going missing

The mother of a 5-year-old boy who drowned in a Malden, Massachusetts pool is speaking out one day after the tragedy.

Ytaliashe Joseph told NBC10 Boston she and her son Jeremiah drove to her aunt's home Thursday to pick up mail, having lived at the Princeton Street address for years. She went inside while Jeremiah remained outside. Within minutes, however, the young boy went missing.

Joseph said she jumped in her car and drove around the neighborhood, calling 911 in the process.

The boy's cousin, Jedson Francois, took part in the frantic search and eventually located Jeremiah in the pool next-door.

"My cousin pull him out of the pool. Just jumped. And I saw him lay down. I can see him dead. I know he's not going to make it," recalled Joseph.

Grief-stricken family members — originally from Haiti— went to the house yesterday. They're devastated and at a loss to explain what happened.

"Why did it have to be him? Just turned 5, he's just a sweet boy," said Joseph.

Six days after Jeremiah was born, his mother had his name tattooed on her right shoulder.

"He just turned five. He was born March 21, 2014. My baby was going to start kindergarten in September," she said.

Joseph, who has a 3-year-old daughter and is pregnant with another boy who is due in August, was taken to an area hospital as a precaution due to the stress of the situation. She says her unborn child is OK.

Neighbors said the owner of the pool keeps the gate locked. It's believed the child climbed over the fence to get to the pool.

The district attorney said the drowning was an accident and that foul play is not suspected.

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