Joan Reyes de Jesus was sentenced to two life terms in prison after a jury convicted her of murdering two 1-year-old twins she was babysitting in Odessa, Texas. The infants drowned in a bathtub after the 34-year-old left them unattended to watch television and fell asleep. She faces parole eligibility after 35 years.
On October 16, 2024, Joan Reyes de Jesus placed the 1-year-old twins in a bathtub on the 800 block of Humble Road in Odessa, western Texas, turned on the water, and left the bathroom to watch television, according to the Odessa Police Department. She then fell asleep, and about 30 minutes or more passed before family members discovered the children. A 911 call brought officers and emergency personnel to the home, where the twins were found suffering from apparent drowning and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. An affidavit detailed that de Jesus appeared stoic and did not assist the infants when they were found. She told investigators she often placed the babies in running water without plugging the drain, but a scrunchie blocked it this time, causing the water to rise. The twins' mother had hired de Jesus specifically to care for them during the day while she slept, though she admitted de Jesus watched them about 90 percent of the time amid her work, drug sales, and partying. The mother now faces charges for manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance, as reported by KMID and KPEJ. Prosecutors emphasized in closing arguments the simplicity of the case: the babies were left unattended in a running bathtub, unable to walk or cry for help. Regional NBC affiliate KWES reported the jury's guilty verdict on two counts of murder, leading to Judge John Shrode ordering two life sentences, with parole possible after 35 years.