Wagoner Parents Charged With Murder In Drowning Death Of Their 4-Year-Old Son

Two Wagoner County parents have been charged with second-degree murder in the drowning death of their 4-year-old son.

Monday, August 26th 2019, 12:51 pm

By: News On 6


Two parents are behind bars in Wagoner County charged with murder after the drowning of their 4-year-old-son.

The Wagoner County Sheriff said this drowning was preventable and should never have happened in the first place.

"We believe strongly that Steven and Tina Powers that their actions out there that morning at that swim beach in Toppers cost the life of a four-year-old child," said Chris Elliott.

The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office said Deputies the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other first responders were called to a swimming and fishing area at Ft. Gibson Lake in the Toppers area.

Related Story: Toppers Fire Department Support Family After Losing Their Son 

" A four-year-old that the fire department and civilians out there were doing CPR," said Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott.

Court documents said a Trooper saw that the victims' father Steven Powers II had "glassy eyes, dilated pupils". The four-year-old was taken to a Tulsa hospital and died a few days later. Wagoner County Investigators found that the Stepmother Tina Powers had left the four-year-old and a three-year-old with Steven the day of the drowning.

"The child had been at the beach and had been allowed to wander into the water. He also found that the child had no type of flotation device," said Sheriff Elliott.

Court documents showed that Steven Powers II admitted to taking "at least 4 but maybe up to 5 Xanax bars prior to going to the lake with his family".

"This is a perfect example of where drugs are not a victimless crime. [He] Allowed the four-year-old while he was at the swim beach and didn't keep track of him," said Sheriff Elliott.

Investigators said the Stepmother of the victim admitted she knew Steven "was intoxicated and in no condition to be in control" of the kids. Investigators say Tina also told them the 4-year-old could not swim and saw the child in the water when she left to go to a store.

"This was an innocent defenseless four-year-old child that was left on to his own devices on the swim beach no flotation device no inadequate parental supervision down there and the child ended up drowning," said Sheriff Elliott

Both Steven and Tina were booked into the Wagoner County Jail and their bond was set at $250,000.

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