A Philadelphia woman charged with causing the death of her five-month-old daughter when she drowned at a Leacock Township hotel will have her case proceed to county court after waiving her preliminary hearing. 

Diontae Nicole Beckett, 25, waived her preliminary hearing before Judge Raymond Sheller on Aug. 26 on charges of endangering the welfare of children and involuntary manslaughter.

Beckett is accused of recklessly causing the victim’s death when she drunkenly placed the infant in a spa tub at the hotel in the 3600 block of East Newport Road the evening of May 11. The victim subsequently drowned and died. 

In an interview with police, Beckett, who had been a guest at the hotel along with the victim, said she had been consuming alcohol throughout the day and had taken her daughter swimming earlier in the afternoon before returning to their bedroom. 

Though Beckett told police she never placed the victim into the spa tub, police discovered a picture and video on her phone depicting the infant in a spa tub. Becket told police she was not aware she had taken the girl into the spa tub.

A chemical test of Beckett’s breath determined that she had a blood alcohol content of 0.149% at the time.

Surveillance footage from inside the hotel depicts Beckett entering the lobby carrying the victim, who appears lifeless in her arms. Several hotel guests called 911 and attempted life-saving measures on the victim before first responders arrived.

Beckett is currently free after posting $100,000 bail.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Christopher Jay filed the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Samantha Tropp will prosecute the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.