Authorities in North Carolina have arrested a mother for alleged neglect after her toddler son drowned on the front porch of their home.
Three weeks after the toddler died, Elizabeth Holderness reportedly turned herself in to deputies the morning of Monday, January 5, according to WITN.
Holderness, 30, has been formally charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, felony negligent child abuse with serious bodily injury, and six misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Deputies were dispatched to Holderness’ home in Jacksonville, North Carolina, at around 4:30 p.m. on December 11, 2025, after someone called 911 to report a missing 16-month-old boy, WITN reported.
Shortly after they arrived, authorities found that Zayden Hand was unconscious inside a container of water that was left out on the family’s front porch. First responders performed several lifesaving measures in an attempt to revive the unresponsive toddler who was then transported to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, according to WITN. Hand later died at the medical facility.
Arrest warrants stated that there were six children between the ages of one and eight years old in the Jacksonville house at the time that Hand was found, reported WITN. Authorities have alleged that Holderness had reckless disregard for the safety of the children in her home and accused the mother of ingesting “an illegal substance in a separate room for an extended period of time.”
Holderness allegedly left the toddler unattended in order to take the illegal substances. That is when the boy somehow ended up submerged in water, according to the warrant. Police have not yet provided further details about the circumstances in the home, while they have also not revealed who reported that Hand was missing in the first place.
The mother ultimately turned herself in to authorities after an investigation was launched into the child’s death.
Holderness appeared at her first hearing at Onslow County District Court on January 5, where she asked a judge for a drug test before a bond was set. The drug test came back negative, and the judge ultimately decided to set her bond at $75,000 unsecured.
She was released from jail that same day, according to WITN. Holderness is next scheduled to appear in court on January 15.
Neighbor Nicki King spoke to WITN and expressed sadness over the entire situation.
“He’s in a better place. It is heartbreaking that this happened, but he’s being taken care of now,” King said.
It is not currently clear if Holderness has entered a plea or retained legal representation after she turned herself in.
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The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
If Holderness is found guilty of all of the charges, she will likely be sentenced to time in prison. Those found guilty of a felony involuntary manslaughter charge in North Carolina can face between 13 to 41 months in prison, according to Amburgey Law. Meanwhile, those found guilty of felony negligent child abuse with serious bodily injury could face up to 100 months before bars.
When it comes to the six misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, the sentencing is more vague and will be determined based on the severity of the act and the offender’s past.
