A tragic incident in St Cloud, Florida, has led to a father facing serious legal consequences. Joshua Ruiz-Martinez is under arrest for aggravated manslaughter following the drowning of his infant daughter in their bathtub. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant on February 10, citing negligence and reckless behavior as key factors in the child's death. This heartbreaking event occurred on April 21, 2024, when the baby was found submerged in the bathtub while her father was allegedly engrossed in video games. Despite emergency efforts, the child was pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities discovered logs that indicated Ruiz-Martinez was actively gaming during the critical moments leading up to the tragedy.

The events unfolded in St Cloud, Florida, where Ruiz-Martinez and his young daughter were at home on the fateful day. According to the arrest warrant, the father had placed his daughter in the bathtub because she was being unusually fussy. He filled the tub to her stomach level and left for a few minutes to retrieve a bottle. Upon returning, he found his daughter submerged in water. Emergency services rushed to the scene but could not save the child, who was declared dead at the hospital.

During the investigation, detectives reviewed Ruiz-Martinez’s digital activities. They discovered that he had been playing video games throughout the day, including the period when he claimed to have put his daughter in the bathtub. Logs showed continuous gaming activity right up until the moment he went to check on her. Additionally, investigators found Discord messages where he reportedly warned others never to leave their children unsupervised, contradicting his own actions. In interviews, Ruiz-Martinez expressed profound remorse, questioning if he had indeed caused his daughter’s death due to his gaming habits.

The Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner’s Office classified the child’s death as an accidental drowning. However, deputies argued that Ruiz-Martinez’s prolonged engagement in gaming and lack of supervision demonstrated gross negligence. His failure to provide adequate care and attention to his daughter ultimately led to this devastating outcome. As a result, Ruiz-Martinez was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child. He remains in custody without bail, awaiting further legal proceedings.