Lauran Nicholson’s toddler daughters were pulled from a pool in Katy with cocaine in their systems, according to court documents.
HOUSTON — A woman from Katy is in a Florida jail, charged in connection with the deaths of her two toddlers.
The children were found unresponsive in a backyard pool on Feb. 11 with cocaine in their systems, according to court records. Their mother, 23-year-old Laura Nicholson, was arrested Monday near Fort Myers, Florida. She’s charged with two counts of reckless injury to a child
When we first reported on this story in February, investigators told us the grandmother found the little girls unresponsive in the water after returning home from the grocery store. She started screaming and trying to pull them out.
A subsequent investigation into the children’s deaths led to Laura Nicholson’s arrest.
“We get a tip and a call that a lady from Texas was here,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
Marceno spoke with our sister station and revealed exactly where Nicholson was located.
“Our fugitive warrants unit go out there as we always do, and we hunt, we look, and we found our suspect at a mental health facility,” he said.
According to court records, Nicholson was asleep on a couch when her children accessed the unfenced pool area through an unlocked door with a broken latch. Her father told investigators she falls asleep a lot and this causes issues. They said Nicholson herself stated her children are always running out and getting to the pool. The children’s grandmother accused Nicholson of using cocaine.
Autopsy reports list the cause of death for both girls as drowning and acute cocaine toxicity. A pathologist told investigators that either someone gave the kids cocaine or made it accessible in their living space or environment.
We reached out to the Nicholson family Tuesday, but didn’t hear back. Many people in this neighborhood have known them for decades.
Swimming safety experts say this is a lesson beyond the criminal charges. Make sure pool areas are inaccessible to small children. Consider putting fencing around your pool and teach children how to swim as soon as possible.
Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you.