Former “America’s Got Talent” contestant Deshundre Vinson has been charged with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse in connection with the drowning death of his 4-year-old nephew. The murder charge places the 22-year-old singer, who gained national attention on America’s Got Talent, at the center of a criminal case involving allegations of child neglect and abuse.
Vinson was arrested Sept. 2 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, People reported, citing Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office records. His bond was set at $750,000, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 8.
The charges stem from an Aug. 16 incident at a Central Avenue apartment complex swimming pool. Chattanooga police officers were already at the complex responding to an unrelated call around 5:40 p.m. when they heard screaming from the pool area and found people performing CPR on the child.
The boy was taken to a hospital and remained in the pediatric intensive care unit for about five days before he died.
Police obtained surveillance footage that allegedly showed the child moving along the edge of the pool into deeper water, slipping and struggling before going underwater. Investigators said he remained submerged for approximately nine minutes before someone noticed him, pulled him from the water and began CPR.
Authorities said Vinson had been responsible for watching his nephew, the boy’s 6-year-old brother, and other children that day. Investigators allege that Vinson allowed the two brothers to walk about 0.2 miles from the apartment to the pool without adult supervision.
Police also reportedly obtained messages between Vinson and the child’s mother in which investigators say he acknowledged the lack of supervision and a delayed response to the drowning.
Vinson became known nationally as a member of Citi Limitz, an R&B trio that appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
