A Texas swim coach was indicted in the death of a 13-year-old girl who drowned during practice in June 2016, authorities said on Wednesday, July 26.
Tracey Anne Boyd, a former swim coach at Carroll Independent School District, was charged with abandonment and endangering a child by criminal negligence this week, CBS Dallas reported. Elise Cerami, 13, drowned during swim practice, and a medical examiner ruled she died of accidental drowning.
Her family said that she was healthy, but it’s unclear how the teen drowned. When the teen died last year, it was reported that she was described as an experienced swimmer.
In the incident, she reportedly sank into the water after a routine warmup at around 6:45 a.m., and when her teammates realized she hadn’t surfaced, they pulled her out and staff administered CPR.
She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Boyd, 49, was arrested in Johnson County this month, and a court date is slated for Aug. 1. The indictment against her alleges that she failed to “watch or observe Elise Cerami while [Cerami] was swimming,” the Fort Worth Star-Telegraph reported.
The Carroll school district, in a statement, confirmed that she was an assistant swim coach at the time of the drowning.
“Carroll ISD is not aware of any facts arising out of those circumstances that would support charges or an indictment,” the statement said.
Elise’s family released a statement, saying they’re confident the “district attorney will devote the full resources of their office to the case against Boyd.”
“While the court system proceeds with the grand jury’s indictment, our efforts will continue in water safety and drowning prevention,” the family stated, CBS reported.
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