Lincoln mother arrested in drowning death of 2-year-old, police say

A Lincoln stepmother has been arrested in connection with the drowning death of her 2-year-old stepson.Jacqueline S. Cooley, 28, was taken into custody Wednesday morning for felony child abuse.A January investigation indicated that Cooley found her stepson face down in a bathtub filled with 10 inches of water.Cooley told police she left the toddler, who had Down's Syndrome, unattended for two to three minutes while she looked for a towel.Cooley tried to conduct CPR but the child did not recover and died six days later.Investigators said Cooley had left her children unattended in a bathtub before when a similar incident occurred in November.Prosecutors dropped child neglect charges at that time and allowed Cooley to go through pretrial diversion.Cooley's other five children range from 18 months to 13 years old. They were all taken into protective custody.

A Lincoln stepmother has been arrested in connection with the drowning death of her 2-year-old stepson.

Jacqueline S. Cooley, 28, was taken into custody Wednesday morning for felony child abuse.


A January investigation indicated that Cooley found her stepson face down in a bathtub filled with 10 inches of water.

Cooley told police she left the toddler, who had Down's Syndrome, unattended for two to three minutes while she looked for a towel.

Cooley tried to conduct CPR but the child did not recover and died six days later.

Investigators said Cooley had left her children unattended in a bathtub before when a similar incident occurred in November.

Prosecutors dropped child neglect charges at that time and allowed Cooley to go through pretrial diversion.

Cooley's other five children range from 18 months to 13 years old. They were all taken into protective custody.





