Belleville mother speaks out about death of 11 month-old son

11 month-old Oliver Hunt died Monday after family members say he drowned in a swimming pool.

He would have turned one on September 1, but now his family is planning his funeral.

"He was always happy, always singing, loved the water," says his mother Angelina Jacques.

She says on Monday morning at his grandmother's house, Oliver was put in his portable crib for a nap.

Jacques says she fell asleep on the couch next to him when she woke up Oliver was gone.

"The crib rail was down and unlocked.  He wasn't in the crib. I started screaming where's Ollie? Where's Ollie?" she says.

Jacques says she searched everywhere and found Oliver outside in the pool.

Investigators say the cause of death is consistent with drowning, but they are still waiting for toxicology results.

Jacques believes her son crawled out an open sliding glass door, on to the deck and up a few steps into the pool where the gate was open.

"He's been crawling long before most babies can crawl ... and fast. It's not fair. I did everything in my power to protect him at all times. Now there's a police investigation. My kids are devastated. It's the worst thing that could have happened," says Jacques.

Investigators with Sumpter Twp. police aren't saying a lot about this case, but they are still investigating and doing follow-up interviews with witnesses.

Jacques says there were other family members at home at the time, but no one saw Oliver get out of the portable crib.

"When the side rail is in a "v" he can climb right out. I've never seen him do it, it's never happened before or I never would have used the crib, but that's all i can think happened." she says.

After Oliver was pulled from the pool, Jacques says family members tried CPR until paramedics arrived, but the little boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. The family has donated some of Oliver's organs.

The family says they need help with funeral expenses. If you'd like to help, you can donate to the Oliver J. Hunt fund at any Huntington Bank.

Funeral services will be at noon on Saturday, August 25 at the Harvest of Victory Church of Ypsilanti.