Anchorage Mom Charged with Attempted Drowning of Infant Daughter

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

An Anchorage mom has been charged with allegedly attempting to drown of her 7-month-old daughter, according to the Anchorage Police Department.

Anita Shell, APD Public Information Officer, said in a news release Monday that 40-year-old Crystal Hawkins was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the first degree.

On Sunday morning around 8:20 a.m., police responded to the 8400 block of Rosalind Street after receiving a 911 call from a woman who claimed she tried to drown her infant in the bathtub.

Police said the baby was taken to a local hospital for observation and detectives reported the baby to be “alive, active, crying, smiling, and drinking from a bottle.”

On Friday, police responded to another incident involving Hawkins and her daughter. APD said Hawkins was a visiting a cousin at an apartment at the 500 block of North Bragaw. Her cousin stepped outside of the apartment to make a phone call and Hawkins locked her out of the apartment. She fled outside a window and left her daughter alone in the apartment, according to police.

APD said Hawkins' mother took custody of the infant after Friday’s incident.

Family members told Anchorage police that Hawkins has been struggling with drugs and alcohol along with mental problems.

Hawkins was arraigned Monday afternoon and bail was set at $250,000 plus third party custodian. She could face up to 99 years behind bars if convicted.

Contact Neil Torquiano