California Mom of 5 Charged In Connection to Death of 2-Year-Old Son Found Unresponsive in Bathtub

A mother of five has been arrested in connection with the death of her youngest child.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Placentia Police Department confirmed in a press release that Melissa Lynn Beisel, 40, was taken into custody after her 2-year-old son died during bath time at their home in Placentia, Calif.

“On September 22, 2025, at approximately 9:08 PM, Placentia Public Safety Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call regarding a 2-year-old male child who was unresponsive,” the statement read. “Placentia Police Officers and Placentia Fire personnel arrived on scene, located the male child in the bathroom, and began life-saving measures.”

The toddler was transported to a local hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.

Officials reported that Beisel received treatment for “self-inflicted wounds,” which Lt. Joe Connell told The Orange County Register “did not appear to be life-threatening.”

“The investigation revealed that the mother was giving the child a bath in a walk-in shower using a plastic storage bin,” authorities said. “The mother left the bathroom to get soap and left the child alone for approximately two minutes.”

Beisel’s son was found “face down in the bin, unresponsive” when she returned, officials said. “The mother began CPR, and when it was not effective, she harmed herself with a sharp object.”

Police said Beisel remained in the bathroom with her unresponsive son for about six hours before a relative discovered them and called emergency services.

After her discharge from the hospital, Beisel was taken to jail and charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing great bodily injury, according to the Placentia Police Department.

Authorities stated that while they do not believe Beisel intentionally drowned her son, leaving him unattended in the bath and not contacting authorities after finding him unresponsive constituted negligence, per The Orange County Register.

Beisel lived with her partner and their five children. Their deceased son was the youngest, and Connell said the other children ranged from “elementary age to mid-teens.”

Molly Ortiz, who lives across the street from Beisel, told The Orange County Register that the family appeared “loving” and “normal.”

Ortiz also recalled that several months ago, a member of Child Protective Services had visited her home looking for Beisel, though the reason for the visit was unclear and unconfirmed.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Placentia Police Department Detective Bureau at (714) 993-8146.

“Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Orange County Crimestoppers at (855) TIPS-OCCS or https://occrimestoppers.org,” authorities added.