An Ohio family's two young children reportedly snuck out of their home on October 4, while their mother was sleeping. Neighbors called 911 when they saw one of the boys wandering around the neighborhood in Oregon, Ohio, in nothing but a diaper. Police arrived at the home to talk to the mother, but no one knew the tragedy that was about to unfold.
Anthony Hall told WTVG he was at work when his 4-year-old and 2-year-old sons somehow got outside without their mother knowing. Sadly, 2-year-old Marcus found his way to a neighbor's pool and drowned. Today, the father is grieving the loss of his son, and the neighbors are under fire from the city.
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Police arrived at the Halls' house after receiving a neighbor's concerned phone call.
According to a 911 call recording obtained by WTVG, a worried neighbor called police to report a child wandering outside without adult supervision. The neighbor called around 10:30 a.m. and said, "There's a baby outside in just a diaper chasing a dog. There's no adults." An officer was dispatched to the home and reportedly spoke to the mother.
The officer allegedly told her to be more careful.
WTVG reported that Oregon police said the officer told her to keep a better eye out and to consider installing safety devices. The mother was reportedly sleeping when the officer arrived. She realized soon after that Marcus, whom the family called Mar Mar, was not in the home.
She panicked and called 911.
The station obtained a second recording of the mother calling 911 just before 11:30 a.m. She told the dispatcher police had visited and had woke her up, and that her 4-year-old was in the house, but Mar Mar was missing. Dispatch sent officers to the scene.
Upon arrival, an officer made a heartbreaking discovery.
Mar Mar's body was floating in a neighbor's above-ground pool. An officer reportedly grabbed the toddler and attempted CPR, but it was too late. Emergency responders transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His dad told WVTG that his son was energetic and a quick learner. "He was a cool little dude," he said, holding back tears.
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The family has reached out to friends for help.
Anthony created a GoFundMe to help with final expenses. The boy's father wrote that his heart aches for his son.
"Marcus Anthony, Hall (aka MAR MAR) was just a baby.. i don't know how to explain this but i will try the best way i can my name is Anthony Hall, Marcus's dad. His life was taken form him early afternoon on 10/4/2023 there was a incident where his mother was sleeping and the kids snuck out of the house unfraternally Marcus climbed into a Swimming pool and drown this story break my heart every time i have to tell it he was only two years old this is not fair to baby Marcus so please anything help i just want my baby to be able to rest, i cant imagen what was going though his mind during all this," he wrote.
The GoFundMe has raised $2,000 of a $2,500 goal.
According to WTVG, the incident is under investigation by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Additionally, a complaint about the pool was filed with the city. The homeowner allegedly didn't have a required fence around the pool.
