Father faces manslaughter, neglect charges after 1-year-old son drowns

A Charlotte County man is facing charges after his 1-year-old son drowned in the family’s pool in October.

Deputies on Oct. 3 arrived at the home in Deep Creek to find a boy unresponsive after falling into the family pool. They attempted to save the child who was then taken to the hospital, where he later died.

“He’s going to have to live with that for the rest of his life,” Barry Bean said.

While at the home, deputies say they noticed an overwhelming smell of marijuana.

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said the child’s mother went to work and the father, Shahzad Nazir Sayed Sr., 26, knowingly went to sleep, leaving the two kids unattended. One of the children was able to open a door to the home and access the pool, where there were no pool safety devices.

“Honestly, he should have been awake watching his kid,” Charles Zuza said.

“It’s sad how are you just going to let your 1-year-old walk out of the house?” Zuza said.

Deputies obtained a video they say shows Sayed conducting drug transactions in front of the children.

“That is an absolute tragedy for something like that to happen to somebody that didn’t even have a chance to start their life,” Bean said.

Deputies also found narcotics in the common areas of the house and video clips that showed what the father was doing with them.

The investigation and the video clips also showed there was no baby gate around the doors or near the pool, which investigators believe could have saved the baby’s life.

“The children were able to manipulate and open and access the doors, which ultimately led to this tragic incident,” said Det. Cody Forbus in a CCSO video release.

Sayed was taken into custody Tuesday on the following charges:

• Aggravated manslaughter of a child;
• Child neglect (2 counts);
• Possession of a place with knowledge of manufacture of a controlled substance, minor present or residing therein;
• Possession of a controlled substance;
• Possession of cannabis over 20 grams; and
• Possession of paraphernalia.