NICEVILLE (AP) -- A 2-year-old girl accidentally drowned in a pond behind her family's house in the Panhandle after she opened a broken child safety gate in the living room, officials said.
Alexis Rayne Williford, whose birthday was Feb. 10, was taken to a hospital after she was found floating in the pond Saturday. She died later in the day, and it was ruled an accidental drowning, said Okaloosa County sheriff's spokesman Catherine Dokey.
The child's father Earl Williford was at work. Alexis had been sleeping with her mother Hallie Williford but apparently woke up, unlatched the gate and opened the back door, Dokey said. The mother discovered the girl was missing when she woke up.
A family dog broke the safety gate about a week ago, Dokey said. The Willifords bought another gate Friday but hadn't installed it yet.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us