Savannah mother indicted in drowning death of 9-month-old son

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Chatham County grand jury has indicted a Savannah mother on murder and cruelty charges months after her 9-month-old son drowned at their home.

Twenty-eight-year-old Rokerria Gibbs is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children in the death of her son, Legend.

According to the indictment, Gibbs left the infant unattended in a bathtub at their East Anderson Street home in March, where he drowned. Legend was taken to a local hospital but died the following day.

Prosecutors allege the child’s death was the result of criminal negligence and that the infant suffered because he was left without proper supervision.

The indictment was returned about two weeks ago, and Gibbs was arrested over the weekend. She is expected to appear before a judge in the coming weeks for a bond hearing, where the court will determine whether she will be released while the case proceeds.

The charges stem from an investigation that began when Savannah Police responded around 3 p.m. to the 300 block of East Anderson Street for what was initially reported as the death of a juvenile. Authorities later clarified the child had been transported to a local hospital with a pulse, and officers remained at the residence for several hours processing the scene.

No additional details about the circumstances leading up to the drowning have been released.

The case remains pending in Chatham County Superior Court.