A grieving mother has expressed distress over the Bexar County Sheriff's Office's intention to file criminal charges following the drowning death of her two-year-old son, Malachi. The toddler died on August 9, days after nearly drowning in a community swimming pool.
Grace LeBlanc, Malachi's mother, stated that she was unaware of the sheriff's office's plans until contacted by the media. The incident occurred on August 5 while Malachi was with a family friend at a community pool in Indian Springs. According to LeBlanc, her son had been having a snack when he either jumped or fell into the pool.
Emergency services were called to the scene and performed lifesaving efforts before transporting Malachi to the hospital. LeBlanc rushed from work to be with her son, arriving at the hospital to learn that his heartbeat had been revived. Malachi was then taken to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where he remained for eight days.
A CT scan revealed swelling on his brain, and doctors indicated a low probability of survival. Malachi was declared dead four days after the accident. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office officially ruled his death an accident.
LeBlanc conveyed her continued trust in the individual supervising her son at the time, describing the event as a tragic accident. She noted that the person watching Malachi was a trusted family friend who had cared for all her children previously.
Following Malachi's death, the family was approached by the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance. Initially hesitant, Grace LeBlanc agreed to organ donation after her husband, Myron LeBlanc, convinced her. She found peace in the decision, stating that if her prayed-for miracle of her son's survival did not occur, his organs could still create miracles for others.
Malachi's organs were donated to three children on the transplant list in Texas. His donation marked him as the second pediatric organ donor at North Central Baptist Hospital. Nurses honored him by placing his handprint on a ceiling tile, alongside that of the first child donor.
An obituary for Malachi stated that his life had a divine purpose and that his story strengthened faith and changed lives. The family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to cover medical and funeral expenses, which has raised approximately $23,000 toward a $65,000 goal.
A service to honor Malachi was held by his church, Pursuit Church San Antonio, on August 21. He is survived by his parents and three siblings: Aviela, 13, Ezekiel, 11, and Amari, 4.