Toddler drowns in Clinton swimming pool

A 19-month-old girl died Sunday after falling into an above-ground pool at a Sampson County home, authorities said.

Ashley Marie Deetz dropped her daughter, Haley Nicole Jones, off at a friend's house on Boykin Bridge Road Sunday afternoon, authorities said. The friend, Kathryn Highsmith, was looking after several children and noticed Haley had wandered off, authorities said.

Highsmith searched the house for Haley and found her floating in the above-ground pool beside her house, authorities said. She pulled her out and called paramedics while a neighbor started trying to revive the toddler, authorities said.

Haley was was pronounced dead at Sampson Regional Medical Center, authorities said.

The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and the Sampson County Department of Social Services are investigating the incident.C