Infant drowns in hotel bathtub, father arrested

By on Tuesday, November 15th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

RICHLAND, Washington – An Oregon man was arrested Nov. 3 and charged with manslaughter after his 1-year-old son drowned in a hotel bathtub last month in Richland. On Friday, Oct. 28, medics from the Richland Fire Department and officers from the Richland Police Department were dispatched to the WoodSpring Suites hotel, 1370 Tapteal Drive, for a possible bathtub drowning of a child.

The young boy was transported to an area hospital for treatment where his heartbeat was restored due to the efforts of hospital staff. The child was then airlifted to a Seattle hospital for continued care, where he later died.

Information developed during the investigation by detectives showed the child’s father, Jonnathan Kaimana Rodriguez, 24, of Prineville had negligently and/or recklessly caused the death of his son. According to authorities, this neglect or recklessness was found not to be a single, isolated event, but rather a pattern set by the child’s father.

Rodriguez is currently being held in the Benton County Jail on a $50,000 bond.