DANBURY, Wis. (KMSP) -
A Wisconsin couple is officially facing felony child neglect charges in the drowning death of their 3-year-old daughter. The pair surrendered themselves to police on Sunday.
Jenna Danish, 33, and Thomas Williams, 42, both signed signature bonds of $25,000 apiece and were released from jail. Both are due back in court on Wednesday.
Under the conditions of their bond, both Danish and Williams must maintain absolute sobriety and must either continue to reside in Burnett County or give court clerks 48-hour notice of any future move. If they do not, they will have to pay the sum of their bond.
The charges stem from last month, when the couple's daughter, Reena Williams, wandered away from their home and drowned in a nearby canal. Her death has been ruled accidental, but neighbors told FOX 9 News the girl was found wandering alone nearly a mile away from her home before she went missing again.
If convicted, Williams and Danish face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Court documents say synthetic marijuana, marijuana seeds and numerous smoking pipes were found inside the couple's home. On Monday, the Burnett County Sheriff's Office told FOX 9 News the house was filthy and, in their opinion, no place for a 3-year-old.
Neighbors say Reena Williams went missing twice in the same day. Though she was returned to the family's home the first time, she would never come home after her second disappearance.
Hundreds of volunteers turned out to search for the girl, but her body was found the next day about 25 yards from her home in a canal that is now marked with a memorial plaque.
FOX 9 News spoke with Williams on Monday, who said he and Danish loved their daughter. He said they believe the investigation was botched, calling it "crap."
When asked about the condition of the couple's home, he said investigators are responsible for the mess.
As for the drug allegations, Williams said synthetic marijuana is just
what it says on the package -- smoking dragon potpourri. He did admit to
smoking marijuana "every once in a while" with the last time being
about a month ago. He said Danish has never done drugs, as far as he
knows.
