Child who died after being submerged in bathtub is identified

St. Paul police Sgt. Paul Schnell said Brianna Rose Jackson, 18 months, was declared dead on Thursday after the near-drowning Wednesday in a foster home

Last update: July 5, 2009 - 11:05 PM

St. Paul police on Sunday released the name of a toddler who died last week after she was found submerged in a bathtub in a St. Paul foster home.

St. Paul police Sgt. Paul Schnell said Brianna Rose Jackson, 18 months, was declared dead on Thursday after the near-drowning Wednesday in a foster home in the 1600 block of Darlene Street. Police continue to investigate the circumstances around her death.

Brianna was being cared for by foster parents David and Barbara Wright, 50 and 46, respectively. The Wrights, who began taking in foster children in 2002, were licensed to provide care for up to five children younger than 18.

Schnell refused to identify Brianna's biological parents, saying their identities are part of a child protection-related matter unrelated to her death.

Brianna's 3-year-old sibling, who was in the bathtub with her, has been removed from the Wrights' care. The children apparently were left alone for a few minutes, during which Brianna slipped beneath the water, police have said.

Records show that police have been called to the Wrights' residence 14 times in the past five years for instances described as disturbances or domestics.

KARLEE WEINMANN

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