Background: A section of the 800 block of Humble in Odessa, Texas (Google Maps). Inset: Joan Reyes de Jesus (Odessa Police Department).
A Texas woman now faces the bleak reality of life behind bars after a tragic incident involving the drowning of 1-year-old twins. Joan Reyes de Jesus has been sentenced to two life terms after a jury found her guilty of murdering the children. According to a report by regional NBC affiliate KWES, she will be eligible for parole only after serving 35 years.
The incident took place on October 16, 2024, when de Jesus, then 34, was entrusted with the care of the twins in Odessa, a city nestled in western Texas. She had been hired specifically by the children’s mother to look after them, as noted by the Odessa Police Department.
On that fateful day, de Jesus placed the twins in a bathtub and turned on the water before leaving the bathroom to watch television. Police reports indicate that she later fell asleep, unaware of the dire situation unfolding. It was approximately 30 minutes or more before anyone in the household realized the babies were unattended in the bathtub.
Upon this discovery, a call to 911 was made, prompting a swift response from officers and emergency personnel. Unfortunately, despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, both children were pronounced dead due to apparent drowning.
Someone in the home called 911, and officers and emergency personnel responded to the home. When they got there, they found the babies suffering from an apparent drowning.
The kids were rushed to an area hospital, but both were pronounced dead.
According to an affidavit obtained by the TV station, officers testified during de Jesus’ trial about her actions when the babies were found. She apparently seemed “stoic” and emotionless and didn’t try to help the kids.
De Jesus reportedly told investigators when interviewed that she placed the babies in the running water as she often did, and did not plug the drain, which lets the water rise. However, a scrunchie — a fabric-wrapped band normally used to pull hair back — blocked the drain, she said.
The mother of the twins hired de Jesus to watch the kids during the day as she would sleep, but she admitted that de Jesus watched them about “90 percent of the time” while she worked, sold drugs, or partied, local ABC affiliate KMID and Fox affiliate KPEJ reported. She was later charged with manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance.
Prosecutors said in their closing arguments that the facts of the case “are pretty simple. The babies were put in a bathtub… and were not watched.”
“We know they were left in the bathtub unattended… water running… they couldn’t walk,” prosecutors added, per KMID and KPEJ. “They couldn’t even cry out for help.”
