RANKIN COUNTY – Officials said the drowning death of a 3-year old Grenada County girl has been ruled accidental and the case has been closed. Rankin County Coroner Jimmy Roberts said Carley Kris Collins died at the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital one day after she was found unresponsive in a friend’s hot tub.
Authorities said on April 9, Collins and her family were attending a get-together at a friend’s house in the Melanie Parkway subdivision in Rankin County when adults noticed that Carley was missing.
“They missed her for a few minutes,” said Roberts. “And from what I was told, they said she fell into a hot tub. The hot tub wasn’t plugged up. It was cold and it was not operating.”
Roberts could not confirm how much water was in the tub, but authorities said someone on the scene administered CPR on Carley until an ambulance arrived.
“They picked the baby up at the scene and carried her directly to River Oaks Hospital,” Roberts said. “And she was later transferred to [Blair Batson].”
Carley died about 1:30 a.m. on April 10.
Roberts said no autopsy was performed on Carley because after her organs were examined for donation, her death was ruled accidental.
“That ruling came from our office,” Roberts. “The Rankin County Coroner.”
Funeral services for Carley were held on April 13 at Friendship Baptist Church in Grenada.
“Carley lives on as she was able to give the gift of life as an organ donor,” read Carley’s obituary. “Eight lives have been touched thus far through this act of kindness.”
Carley is survived by her parents, Chris and Tera Snell Collins and a sister, Caydn.
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