Boy Who Was Hospitalized After Bathtub Incident Dies

A 15-month-old Ventura boy, who was left alone in a bathtub while his mother answered a phone, died Wednesday, authorities said.

Jay Thompson was taken off life support at Ventura County Medical Center and died about 3:45 p.m., a day after he had been rushed there by paramedics, hospital officials said.

The boy’s mother, Christina Martinez, 21, was bathing her child about noon Tuesday in their apartment on Whippoorwill Street. She told authorities she went to answer the phone, but a few seconds later there was no noise coming from the bathroom, said Ventura Police Lt. Carl Handy.

When Martinez checked the tub, she found the boy floating underwater.

Police and paramedics tried to revive the boy in the family’s living room before he was taken to the hospital. Police say they are investigating the death, and a coroner’s report is expected today.

An unidentified woman who answered the telephone at Martinez’s home Wednesday night said Martinez was too distraught to answer questions. The woman also said funeral arrangements were pending.

The boy’s death marks the second such incident in Ventura County this month. Two weeks ago, 18-month-old Colton Clarke of Camarillo drowned at a family reunion in Oak Park after wandering outside into the swimming pool.

The deaths come as county fire officials are calling for heightened water safety, launching a campaign called Water Awareness Training for Children in the Home.