NR 21-15 Kathleen Princess Edwards Charged with Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child
Earlier today, 35-year-old Kathleen Princess Edwards, formerly of Grant-Valkaria, surrendered herself to the Volusia County Jail under a $25,000.00 bond on the Brevard County charge of Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child, a First-Degree Felony, stemming from the June 27, 2020, drowning death of her then 18-month-old son Gregory Edwards, Jr.
After comprehensive independent investigations by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Children and Families, the Child Protection Team of Brevard and the Office of the State Attorney for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida; the Office of the State Attorney filed the formal charge on March 22, 2021. The filing of a formal charge in Brevard Circuit Criminal Court led to the issuance of a Capias (a writ ordering the arrest of a person) for Edwards to appear to answer to the criminal charge.
Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child requires the State of Florida to prove that: 1) a victim is dead; 2) the death of the victim was caused by the culpable negligence of the defendant; and 3) that the victim was at the time a child, and the victim’s death was caused by the neglect of a caregiver for the victim. Neglect of a child occurs when a caregiver fails to provide a child with the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health that a prudent person would consider essential for the well-being of the child. A caregiver is defined as a parent, adult household member, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare.
During the course of the comprehensive investigations it was determined that Edwards, failed to properly secure her pool and failed to supervise her infant child, leading to the drowning death of Gregory Edwards, Jr.
On March 22, 2021, Edwards was informed of the Capias and was provided the opportunity to voluntarily surrender. On March 31, 2021, Edwards self-surrendered, was formally arrested, and may be released after posting bond in this criminal matter.
Anyone with information about this Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child investigation is asked to please call Sergeant Troy Deavers of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 321-633-8413.
For additional information concerning this News Release, please call PIO Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office at 321-501-7594.
