Mikaylee Rae Beirne, 31, of Johnson City was arrested this week and charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect after deputies said she tried to drown one of her children in a backyard swimming pool on July 15, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
Washington County Sheriff Keith Sexton said deputies responded to a disturbance at a home on Cochran Road around 5 p.m.
Investigators said witnesses told deputies Beirne was in the backyard pool with multiple children while another adult was inside the home. One child ran inside to alert the adult that Beirne was forcing a child underwater, authorities said.
The adult rushed to the pool and demanded that Beirne release the child, investigators said. The adult then pulled Beirne away and helped the child out of the water. Authorities said another adult arrived and briefly interacted with Beirne before deputies arrived, and that Beirne left the scene before law enforcement responded.
Authorities said the children were taken inside the home and emergency personnel were called. One child suffered minor injuries and bruising. Deputies located Beirne a short time later and took her into custody. She is being held at the Washington County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond, the sheriff’s office said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
