A 42-year-old Palm Bay woman is facing new child abuse charges after her 16-month-old child was found unresponsive in the family’s pool. Laura Forsyth was arrested by Palm Bay police four days ago after her estranged husband called 911. Officers found the child unresponsive, with the infant’s head tilted back and eyelids fluttering. Forsyth was holding the child when police arrived, according to an arrest affidavit. The child was airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital for treatment. Forsyth reportedly told officers, 'I’m going to jail.'
This is the second time Forsyth has faced child abuse charges in five months. In September, she was accused of locking her six children in their bedrooms with no access to food or water. At the time, she and her husband, Nathan Forsyth, were each charged with six counts of child abuse—one for each child, who ranged in age from 16 months to nine years. A judge granted Forsyth’s motion to reunite with her children in December after her attorney argued she had complied with supervised visits and her case manager supported reunification. The court officially approved the decision on February 5.
The latest incident occurred at the family’s home, where the husband called 911 after discovering the child in the pool. Police say Forsyth was holding the infant when they arrived. The affidavit does not specify how the child ended up in the water. Forsyth’s attorney has not publicly commented on the new charges, but the case has drawn attention from local authorities. Palm Bay police have not released additional details about the investigation.
Forsyth’s previous case highlighted concerns about her parenting. The September charges led to a custody battle, but the court ultimately allowed her to regain custody after months of supervised visits. Now, the new arrest raises questions about whether the family’s situation has improved. The case is ongoing, with Forsyth currently in custody and facing additional charges. A court hearing is expected in the coming weeks.