Fort Myers mother accused of dunking boy underwater at hotel pool

A Fort Myers woman is behind bars after deputies say she submerged a child underwater during an incident at a Central Florida resort pool.

According to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee after witnesses reported a disturbance involving children at the pool.

Investigators say 36-year-old Tiffany Griffith intervened during a confrontation between her son and a 6-year-old child. Deputies allege Griffith submerged the child underwater multiple times. The child later surfaced crying, according to the arrest report.

Griffith was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse.

Court records show Griffith told investigators she believed the child was drowning her son and said she reacted to protect him.

Parents in Fort Myers we spoke with said situations involving children in public spaces can escalate quickly and stressed the importance of restraint and awareness.

“That’s still a child, you know? You could have reacted in a different way,” said Jacqueline, a Fort Myers resident.

Another parent emphasized constant supervision in public spaces, especially around pools, where conditions can change in seconds.

During Griffith’s first court appearance, a judge found probable cause. She was also ordered to have no contact with the child or the child’s family.