Michigan Student With Learning Disabilities Drowns In Pool, Swimming Instructor Charged

A swimming instructor was arrested and charged with the death of his student. The incident took place in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday (May 12).

The accused, identified as 47-year-old Kareem Sigler, was a former swimming instructor at Mumford High School. He was arrested and charged with the death of Da’Sean Blanding, a 15-year-old student with learning disabilities who drowned on Feb. 24. The school suspended him after the boy's death.

Blanding was attending Sigler’s swimming classes in the morning. However, a while after classes started, another student notified Sigler that the boy was at the bottom of the pool. He immediately jumped into the water and pulled Blanding to the surface with the help of other students and contacted 911. The boy was then transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office issued an autopsy report last month which stated that Blanding's death was caused by drowning. He had suffered injuries to his face and head, which might have been caused by the grate placed along the pool. However, the injuries on his face did not cause his death. Officials were unable to determine if the drowning was accidental or if it involved any foul play.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy stated that Sigler was grossly negligent by failing to supervise Blanding, which resulted in his death.

"We are alleging that the evidence in this case shows that the death of Mr. Blanding could have been prevented," Worthy said in a statement. "While swimming pools are certainly desirable, they can also be death traps without proper, necessary, and needed supervision and preparedness.”

On Tuesday, Sigler was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and he could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

Christina Blanding, the victim’s mother, believed that her son was bullied and beaten before he was forced into the water when his teacher left the class unsupervised.

She thanked the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for seeking justice for her son on Tuesday.

"I think that’s awesome because he is responsible. If he was in there, this would have never happened. I would like other people to speak up about who did this to my child. Parents are silencing the other teens in the class. They need to stop the 'not-snitching' rule," she said.

"There are kids who know but we can't get to them. The police have had a hard time getting through the parents. And that is what we need to know," said Johnny Hawkins, Blanding's attorney.

The case was still under investigation.