Anderson woman bound over for trial on charge related to 2022 drowning of her 11-month-old son

An Anderson woman waived her preliminary hearing today in McDonald County Circuit Court on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and was bound over for trial.

Samantha A. Qualls (DOB 1998) was charged January 31 in connection with the 2022 drowning of her 11-month-old son.

The allegations against Qualls were spelled out in the probable cause statement:

On May 20. 2022, Samantha Ann Qualls stated that she had placed her 2-year-old son into the bathtub with water, and then stepped outside at 8:05 a.m. to smoke a cigarette and make a phone call for 6 minutes (8:11 a.m.).

Qualls stated that after coming inside at 8:11 a.m., she placed her 11-month-old son onto the floor from the high chair. Qualls then stepped outside at approximately 8:15 a.m. and called her boyfriend's grandmother from 8:15 a.m. to 8:32 a.m.

Qualls stated that she was outside and was smoking for the duration of the phone call.

Qualls stated on written testimony from the day of the incident that she then returned inside and sat on the couch, when her 2-year-old son whom was in the bath, came to her and she realized that she did not see her 11-month- old son.

Qualls stated that she looked in the kitchen and did not see and then located face-down in the bathtub, not responsive and not breathing.

McDonald County E911 shows the incoming 911 call at 8:41 a.m. and law enforcement and medics enroute.

Medics were able to restore breathing and a pulse, but brain activity could not be restored and was taken off of life support 05/22/2022. By Qualls' confession, she left her children unattended for approximately 23 out 27 minutes during the time of this incident, resulting in loss of life.

The case was investigated by the Goodman Police Department.

The day after that charge was filed, the McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed the second charge following an Anderson Police Department investigation into an unattended child found January 30 at the intersection of U. S. Business 71 and Industrial Park Drive.

The child had been dropped off at his home after school, found the door locked and no one home. When police located Qualls, she told them her mother was supposed to make arrangements to pick up the child and said the same thing happened a week earlier, according to the probable cause statement.

Qualls' arraignment in trial court is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 3 before Judge Kevin Selby.