Left: Scott Marcov. Right: Madelyn Marcov (Dubuque Police Department).
A 1-year-old boy fell into a bucket of bleach water for long enough for him to lose consciousness, Iowa authorities say.
A couple, Scott Marcov, aged 30, and Madelyn Marcov, aged 28, are facing charges of neglect of a dependent person and child endangerment resulting in serious injury, according to court documents.
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The incident took place at the Marcov family’s residence in Dubuque on October 1. A criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime from the Dubuque Police Department revealed that one of the Marcov children entered the living room carrying the baby, expressing that the baby was unresponsive. The infant had been in bleach water for an unspecified period, the affidavit stated. Madelyn Marcov dialed 911 for help.
Emergency medical services arrived promptly and transported the infant to the hospital. The baby was reported to have experienced acute respiratory failure and a loss of consciousness. Physicians at Finley Hospital provided initial treatment before transferring the infant to the University of Iowa hospital for specialized medical attention.
Detectives later learned that Scott Marcov was in the kitchen and his wife was in the living room when the boy fell into the bucket in the kitchen, the affidavit said. Cops obtained a search warrant to collect evidence. During the search, investigators noted the house was “completely filthy.” There was trash strewn throughout the home.
“Officers observed mice moving around, a dead mouse on the floor in the kitchen, garbage, and food all over all over the floor and countertops,” cops wrote.
A dirty diaper sat inside a cooking pot on the kitchen top, according to the arrest report.
In addition to the infant, the Marcovs have two other children ages 6 and 4, per the affidavit.
Detectives continued to investigate the case for more than four months and arrested the parents on Tuesday. They both posted a $20,000 bond. The complaint did not give an updated condition for the boy.
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