A 20-month-old girl was found unresponsive in a hot tub at an Airbnb in Kissimmee, Florida, on Dec. 13 and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Her father, 33-year-old Reynard Tyrone Hough, was arrested and charged with child neglect causing great bodily harm and aggravated manslaughter of a child. Authorities say he told deputies he fell asleep while holding the toddler and allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and taking two narcotics before entering the hot tub. The investigation remains active and the family is mourning the loss.
Father Arrested After Toddler Found Unresponsive in Hot Tub; Authorities Say He Fell Asleep Holding the Child
Osceola County Sheriff's Office/FacebookReynard Tyrone Hough mug shot
A father has been arrested after his 20-month-old daughter was found unresponsive in a hot tub at an Airbnb rental in Kissimmee, Florida. Deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) say the child was discovered early on Dec. 13 and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
What Happened
OCSO spokeswoman and local reports say deputies responded to a home on Nice Court shortly after 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 13 following a 911 call reporting an “unresponsive child who appeared to have drowned in a hot tub.” First responders found the toddler unresponsive and she was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead a little after 4:30 a.m.
Arrest and Charges
The agency says 33-year-old Reynard Tyrone Hough, a Washington, D.C., native who was staying at the property, told deputies he had brought his daughter into the hot tub and fell asleep while holding her. He reported waking to find the child unresponsive in his arms, still in the tub.
Hough was arrested and booked into the Osceola County Jail on charges including child neglect causing great bodily harm and aggravated manslaughter of a child. Officials say the investigation remains active.
Osceola County Sheriff's Office/FacebookReynard Tyrone Hough mug shot
Reported Circumstances
According to the OCSO and local reporting, Hough allegedly admitted to drinking alcohol and ingesting two different narcotics before entering the hot tub with his daughter. Capt. Kim Montes of the OCSO is quoted noting the family was devastated and that supervising two small children can be challenging; authorities say another infant of about six months was present in the residence.
“I feel bad for this mom and dad; they were devastated and they had another 6-month-old child at the home. We do know that watching two small kids can be challenging,” Capt. Kim Montes said, as reported by local media.
Family Reaction
Family members identified the toddler as Azariah Hough. Her aunt, Angel Hough, told WESH-TV the family is grieving and that Reynard is "distraught and tore up." She said Azariah will be deeply missed, especially with the holiday season approaching.
Note on Reported Age and Birthdate: Media reports include both a listed age of 20 months and a family-provided birthdate of April 11, 2024. Those two details appear inconsistent; the discrepancy comes from the differing sources cited in initial reports.
Ongoing Investigation
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said the incident remains under investigation and did not immediately provide additional comment to PEOPLE. No further details about the alleged narcotics or toxicology results were released at the time of reporting.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use or child safety concerns, contact local health services or child protective authorities for help.
