Molly Krebs admits to manslaughter after giving her son Benadryl for an allergic reaction – then leaving him to drown in a bath while she took a 90-minute nap
- Molly Krebs, 28, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after letting her son drown in a bath after giving him Benadryl for an allergic reaction
- On Dec. 1, 2022, Krebs gave 3-year-old Jayden Benadryl to treat his hives, then put him in the bath before going to sleep.
- The mother is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26 and faces up to 11 years in prison.
An Ohio mother admitted to involuntary manslaughter for giving her 3-year-old son Benadryl for an allergic reaction, then leaving him to drown in the bathtub while she took a nap.
Molly Krebs, 28, discovered the body of her son Jayden, 3, in the bathtub of their Cincinnati-area home after taking a 90-minute nap on December 1, 2022.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26, at which time Krebs could be sentenced to 11 years in prison, according to Ohio sentencing guidelines.
Initially, the mother pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.
However, she changed her plea Wednesday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in exchange for authorities dropping the child endangerment charge.
Molly Krebs, 28, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after she left her son to drown in a bath after giving him Benadryl for an allergic reaction.
Jayden, 3, died after drowning in a bathtub at his Cincinnati home in December 2022
Krebs was allowed to attend her child’s funeral last year despite the accusations, a decision that sparked anger at the time.
Cincinnati police officers were called to Krebs’ home on Ridgeway Avenue in Avondale around midnight on December 1.
Krebs explained that she was exhausted after a long day of work at a construction and decorating company, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by WCPO.
She entrusted Jayden Benadryl to treat her hives after a reaction of unknown cause, according to the documents.
Krebs said she then ran a bath, put her son in the tub and accidentally fell asleep after walking away from the bathroom.
When she woke up about 90 minutes later, she discovered the horror of her lifeless son partially submerged in the bath and phoned the police.
Jayden was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and was pronounced dead.
Krebs was then taken into custody by the Cincinnati Police Department’s homicide unit.
Krebs’ bail was set at $750,000 and she appeared visibly distressed during her bond hearing in December 2022.
His lawyer Jeffrey Adams (pictured right) said “this appears to be completely accidental” and told the judge his client was “completely devastated” by the loss of his son.
Cincinnati police officers were called to Krebs’ home on Ridgeway Avenue in Avondale around midnight on December 1.
Her bond was initially set at $750,000 and she appeared visibly distressed during her bond hearing in December 2022.
During the hearing, his lawyer, Jeffrey Adams, said “this appears to be completely accidental” and told the judge his client was “completely devastated” by the loss of his son.
According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, “one of the main side effects (of Benadryl) is sedation.” This can make children very drowsy, to the point of falling asleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not giving Benadryl to children under 6 years of age unless directed by a doctor.
