Sentenced: Joan Marie Reyes De Jesus Watched TV, Fell Asleep While 1-Year-Old Twins She Was Babysitting Drowned In Bathtub

[Sugar Cookie]

One year old twins drowned in a bathtub Wednesday and their caretaker, 34-year-old Joan Marie Reyes de Jesus, has been charged with two counts of Injury to a Child, a first-degree felony, in connection with their deaths. Now, an affidavit has revealed new details about the tragedy.

According to an affidavit, on October 16, investigators with the Odessa Police Department responded after twin girls were found unresponsive in the tub; emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene as well and performed CPR on the twins as they were taken to Medical Center Hospital, but both girls were pronounced dead upon their arrival.

Investigators said de Jesus had been hired by the family to care for the girls while their parents, who work nights, slept during the day. The twins, whose names have been redacted by Big 2 News out of respect for the family, celebrated their first birthday just two days before they died.

While their parents slept, investigators said de Jesus placed the girls in the bathtub, left the water running, and then left them alone in the room while she watched TV. At some point while the girls were bathing, de Jesus fell asleep and she did not wake until another member of the family, who had been sleeping after working at night, woke and found the house flooded with water. OPD said the family member went in search of the water source and found the babies unconscious and floating in the tub.

MSN

 

[Pinwheel]

Woooooow, she's lucky she made it to the mug shot with her face intact, much less alive. I woulda lost my shit to wakeup to an overflowing tub w my babies bodies in it and her cozy asleep on my couch. Oh, my, goodness.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Her head is perfect for a baseball bat to connect with it.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-twin-baby-girls-memorial?attribution_id=sl:2127ce7b-b81a-47d4-83c3-7a2d001cd814&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp8_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=facebook

 

[Sugar Cookie]

An Odessa woman will spend the rest of her life behind bars after being convicted of murder for the deaths of 1-year-old twins.

Joan Reyes De Jesus received to two life sentences on Wednesday for each count of murder. She'll be eligible for parole after 35 years.

In October 2024, officials with the Odessa Police Department and Odessa Fire Rescue found the two 1-year-old twins suffering from injuries that appeared related to drowning.

The babies were taken to Medical Center Hospital, but despite the efforts of first responders and emergency medical staff, both babies died. Investigators said that the then-34-year-old De Jesus was identified as the baby's caretaker after being hired by the twins' mother.

During their investigation, police learned that De Jesus placed the babies into the bathtub, turned on the water, and left the bathroom to begin watching television. She had then fallen asleep for an unknown period of time. Evidence obtained by police showed that at least 30 minutes had passed before the twins were discovered in the bathtub.

The big question in the courtroom regarded De Jesus' emotional state when the babies were finally found unresponsive. Many officers testified she was emotionless and didn't attempt to render aid. One sergeant said she was “stoic."

However, the defense questioned detectives on how they came to the quick conclusion that De Jesus should be charged with the injuries to the children. They further claimed that the defense did not look at all the evidence, including verifying with the mother what she was doing in the hours leading up to the incident.


The state's closing argument went through the facts of the case, with De Jesus admitting multiple times to being the one responsible for placing the babies in the tub and leaving them unattended for an extended period of time, and that was her knowingly committing an act clearly dangerous to human life.

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Joan Reyes De Jesus sentenced after being convicted of murder in the drowning deaths of Odessa twins

An Odessa woman has learned her fate after being convicted of murder in the October 2024 drowning deaths of 1-year-old twins.

www.newswest9.com

 

[Kitsune Faye]

Double cute. This bitch was beyond sick of taking care of the twins while “mom” worked, sold dope and partied; she’s facing drug charges, and should face neglect charges. Not making excuses for the vapid bitch above, but it looks like she was sick of being a parent to twins she didn’t have, and wanted to stick it to the neglectful parent, when she should’ve called the incubator and told her to come get the girls, or asked her for relatives number. Glad she got the max.