LV mother arrested in girl’s death
A 24-year-old Las Vegas mother was arrested Friday in Florida on a warrant related to the June drowning of her 23-month-old daughter.
Sheri Badosky was taken into custody in Holiday, Fla., a suburb of Tampa, on a Las Vegas police warrant of child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm.
The charge stems from the June 30 drowning of Chrissa Mathews, who was taken off life support three days shy of her birthday. The drowning happened in a backyard pool.
The girl, who was described in her obituary as a real "firecracker" born on the Fourth of July, and her 5-year-old brother were being watched by Badosky at her mother's house on the 5200 block of Yellow Dawn Court, near Ann Road and Decatur Boulevard.
According to a Las Vegas police report, Badosky had an "extensive case history" with the Clark County Department of Family Services, and her mother was the legal guardian of the children.
On the day of the drowning, Badosky initially told police that Chrissa had ignored her demands to stay off the ladder of an above-ground pool and jumped in, possibly hitting her head.
Badosky then changed her story and said she went indoors to use the bathroom while the children were left unattended, the report said.
Chrissa died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center the day after the accident. The report said a doctor estimated she had been under water for 10 minutes or more.
According to the report, Badosky said she was inside for less than two minutes, and when she returned, she saw her son, who is blind and has developmental issues, holding Chrissa's leg while her head was under water. She said she jumped in, grabbed the girl and tried to resuscitate her.
A warrant was issued for Badosky on July 17.
Officials with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office in Florida wouldn't comment.
Weeks before Chrissa's birth, complaints against Badosky were made to Family Services, and she was monitored for a year. Before that, she was investigated on complaints of abuse, neglect and lack of supervision involving her son.
Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.
