A middle Georgia community is in mourning following the loss of a 4-year-old girl who died after being found in a garbage can full of water in a south Macon home last weekend.
A middle Georgia community is in mourning following the loss of a 4-year-old girl who died after being found in a garbage can full of water in a south Macon home last weekend.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office (BSO) and Macon-Bibb County Fire Department responded to a home on the 1200 Block of Rocky Creek Road just before 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 19, to find a young child, identified as Jayde Wooten, receiving CPR in the driveway with her family in an emotional state, according to an incident report.
At the scene, a deputy spoke to the child's father, who said he had just arrived at the house and could not find his 4-year-old daughter in her room. He then awoke his child's mother, who said the young girl was in the kitchen eating when she fell asleep.
He told the deputy he began "frantically" checking rooms and searching the home for his child and even walked outside to ask neighbors if they had seen Wooten, who said they had not.
However, after hearing his child's mother scream, he ran back inside to find Wooten upside down in a large garbage can full of water and fish in a small restroom in the home, the report says.
Wooten's father then grabbed her out of the water and carried the child outside to get help.
The deputy noted that he found the large trash can in the bathroom filled with water and fish, as well as large puddles of water splashed leading from the restroom to the front door.
A neighbor told the deputy she rushed across the street to give Wooten CPR after the child's mother rushed into her home to ask for help. She and another neighbor took turns providing CPR until Macon-Bibb Fire Department arrived.
The neighbor added that as she performed life-saving measures, the child released fluids from her mouth and opened her eyes at one point, so she turned the child on her side in an attempt to help clear her airway. However, the other neighbor told the deputy that after taking over CPR, she felt no pulse in the young girl, per the report.
EMS arrived and rushed the 4-year-old girl to the hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff, according to BSO.
Following the announcement of the young girl's death, the Jones County School System said they are "deeply saddened" by the loss of one of its Pre-Kingerdaten students and offered thoughts and prayers for the student's family, friends, classmates, and "all who loved them."
Jones County High School also encouraged all students and staff to wear Blue on Wednesday, in loving memory of one of their "youngest Greyhounds."
The family chose blue in honor of their child’s favorite color. Please join us in showing love and support for the family and our Jones County Pre-K community," JCHS wrote. "Every Greyhound Known. Every Greyhound Matters."
Macon Made Nutrition is now selling a special blue sour, blue raspberry and sweet pina colada drink called "Jayde" and said it is donating 50% of the proceeds directly to the Wooten family.
Jones County lost a sweet little soul this week, and our hearts are with Jayde's family and everyone who loved her," the business said in a social media post.
The Wooten family is also asking for the community's support through GoFundMe as they navigate the "heartbreaking loss" of their 4-year-old daughter in what they described as a "horrible accident."
"No parent should ever have to face this kind of pain, and their family is now trying to carry an unimaginable grief while also handling the difficult responsibilities that come after such a devastating loss. During this time, they need space to mourn, support one another, and take each day as it comes," a Wooten family member wrote."The funds raised will help with funeral costs and help support Maleek Wooten and Jorden Wooten over the next few months as they grieve the loss of their little girl. Any kindness shared through this fundraiser will help ease some of the financial burden during an incredibly painful time. If you are able, please consider donating anything you can and keeping Maleek Wooten and Jorden Wooten in your thoughts. Every donation, no matter the amount, will mean so much to this family as they navigate the days ahead."
BSO says the investigation into the 4-year-old's death is ongoing.
