Child Drowns in Hotel Pool

NEWS RELEASE​​​​​​​

June 4, 2024

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman states that 911 calls came into the Communication Center at approximately 6:09p on Sunday, June 2nd of two children that had drowned.  The call came from the Quality Inn in Wheelersburg, Ohio and the caller advised that individuals were performing CPR on the children.  

Porter Township Rescue Squad was dispatched along with a deputy.  One child had been resuscitated prior to the arrival of the rescue squad. Portsmouth Ambulance responded and evaluated this child. The father of the children transported this child to SOMC.

Emergency Medical Staff (EMS) took over CPR of the second child and moved the child to the emergency squad.  Porter EMS continued CPR and transported her to SOMC where she was later pronounced deceased.  

The investigation revealed that the two children were attending a pool party when the older child fell into the pool and the younger sister attempted to pull her out.  The younger child was unsuccessful and went under the water as well.

The two children were later discovered and removed from the water and CPR was immediately administered while 911 was called.

Sheriff Thoroughman advises that the two children were ages 9 and 11.  Tragically, Mackenzie Cornell, age 11, was pronounced deceased.  

This is still an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Tackett-Dye at 740-351-1099.