Boy, 3, Found Dead After Falling into Backyard Pool: ‘There Are No Words for the Pain'
A 3-year-old boy died on Saturday, May 24, after falling into a pool in his backyard
Officials pronounced Kaseyn Clifton dead soon after he arrived at a hospital
'Though his time with us was far too short, Kaseyn filled each day with so much joy," his obituary readA 3-year-old boy has died after falling into a backyard pool in Illinois on Saturday, May 24.
According to the Macon County Sheriff's Office, while his mother was out running errands for about 15 minutes, Kaseyn Clifton was home in Decatur with his siblings and an aunt when he opened a back door, wandered outside and fell into the pool, per the Bradenton Herald.
When his mom came home, she found him in the pool and a family member called 911. First responders took him to Decatur Memorial Hospital, but officials pronounced him dead soon after, per ABC affiliate WICS.
'Our hearts are broken, and there are no words for the pain we are feeling,' his mother, Jessica Lee Mares, posted on Facebook on Monday, May 26, adding, 'Life is so unfair!!! This world will never be the same without you!'
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Macon County Sheriff's Office has completed an investigation and did not find signs of criminal activity, according to local news station, WAND.
'Though his time with us was far too short, Kaseyn filled each day with so much joy. Full of life and energy, he had a smile that could light up any room and a giggle that will echo in our hearts forever,' his obituary read.
'He loved playing with blocks, doing puzzles, watching Cocomelon, blowing bubbles, playing at the park, learning his ABCs/counting and cuddling with mommy and daddy,' the obituary continued.
A public information officer from the Macon Sheriff's department was not immediately available to provide additional information about the fatal incident.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 1-4 years old in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands across Asia stretch, breathe and balance to mark 11th International Day of Yoga
Thousands of people across Asia stretched in public parks and on sandy beaches Saturday to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Teen Causes Family Feud After Choosing to Live with Her Former Stepmom Instead of Dad
An 18-year-old's father painted her as unstable and manipulative in the early days of his second marriage Years later, her stepmother realized the truth and worked to rebuild trust and support with the teen Now, the teen shocked her family by choosing to live with her ex-stepmom, sparking intense backlashA teen seeks support from the Reddit community after making the difficult decision to live with her former stepmother instead of her dad following their split. In a since-deleted Reddit post, the 18-year-old high school senior explains that things have been "weird at home for a while, but now everything's kind of blown up." 'My dad remarried when I was 14. His new wife had two kids from a previous marriage who were younger than me,' she explains. From the beginning, she describes her stepmother as 'polite, but cold,' never outright "rude," but always distant and reserved, especially when it came to her. 'She always seemed more relaxed and affectionate with her kids, which hurt, but I figured maybe that was just natural," she recalls. The poster goes on to say that whenever she entered a room, her stepmom would immediately stop laughing and look at her with suspicion, as if she were a threat to the family. 'For years I felt like I was walking on eggshells around her,' she admits, explaining how she tried everything she could to bridge the gap. 'I tried being friendly, helping out with her kids, giving her space, etc., but it never felt like I was truly welcome in my own home," she says. Despite the pain, she eventually became accustomed to the coldness. But everything changed in the past year, when her stepmom's attitude took a surprising turn. 'I don't know exactly what triggered it, but Stepmom started acting… different. More present. Kinder,' she explains. Her stepmom began to check in on her, invite her to join family activities, and even defend her when her dad would criticize her. 'That's when things started to click between us,' the teen says, reflecting on how their relationship began to heal. The truth behind her stepmom's initial distance came to light after she overheard a heated argument between her dad and stepmom. She learned that her dad had "told Stepmom a lot of stuff about me when they first got together—things like I was manipulative, dishonest, moody, lazy, emotionally unstable.' Her stepmom later apologized. 'She realized how wrong she'd been and how my dad was constantly nitpicking, belittling, and controlling, and how she never saw it clearly until she started watching how he treated me vs. everyone else,' the poster shares. After the divorce two months ago, her father assumed the teen would stay with him. But being 18, she had the freedom to choose. 'I told him I wanted to live with Stepmom,' she says, a decision that set off a wave of backlash from her family. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Her father accused her of 'choosing a woman who never even wanted me,' and claimed she was 'turning my back on my real family.' The criticism didn't stop there, as her grandparents called her 'ungrateful,' and family friends accused her of being disloyal and 'just trying to hurt" her father. Despite the pressure, she stands by her decision, explaining that her stepmom "does want me now. She apologized, made an effort, and treats me like a human being.' She points out that her stepmom is the one who comes to her school competitions and helps her whenever she asks. 'My dad hasn't taken a real interest in me in years," the teen adds. "She listens. She makes space for me. She showed me what it feels like to be safe." Read the original article on People

Associated Press
19 hours ago
- Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: Highlights of International Day of Yoga
Tens of thousands of people across India stretched in public parks and on sandy beaches Saturday to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.