No charges against parents in baby's accidental drowning
<p align="justify">The parents of a 14-month-old boy who accidentally drowned in a bathtub last week will not be charged in his death.
<p align="justify">"We are filing no charges at this time, but are forwarding everything to the (Peoria County) State's Attorney's Office for review," Peoria Heights Police Chief Dustin Sutton said Monday. "It's my understanding they've (the state's attorney's office) come to the same conclusion - that it was a tragic accident."
<p align="justify">Bradley and Julie Fitch, 29 and 30 respectively, were both home when their son, Peyton E. Fitch, drowned in the bathtub about 7 p.m. Thursday.
<p align="justify">Bradley Fitch had come home from work to find his wife suffering from a headache, police reports said. He told her he would get dinner started and give Peyton and their 2-year-old daughter, Katie, a bath. Julie Fitch laid down in the bedroom and soon fell asleep.
<p align="justify">Bradley Fitch told police he put his children in the bathtub, with approximately three to five inches of water, and left the bathroom to start dinner. He filled a pot with water and was waiting for it to boil for spaghetti when he spied his daughter standing in the living room, reports said.
<p align="justify">It was not out of the ordinary to find Katie out of the bathtub, her father told police, because she often climbs out. Bradley Fitch said he was carrying Katie back into the bathroom when he saw Peyton facedown in the tub, which was filling up with water.
<p align="justify">Bradley Fitch said his son was not moving or breathing when he grabbed him from the tub, put him on the floor and started CPR. Police believe Katie turned on the faucet for the bathtub.
<p align="justify">After police arrived, they said Bradley Fitch kept saying, "I should have kept a closer eye on them," according to reports.
<p align="justify">Julie Fitch awoke after hearing her husband scream to call 911. She, too, blamed herself for her son's death, saying, "I shouldn't have went to sleep," according to police reports.
<p align="justify">Peyton was taken to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where he was pronounced dead about 5:30 p.m. Friday. An autopsy performed the next day showed no evidence of trauma to the baby.
<p align="justify">Sutton said his department has concluded its investigation and "everything the parents said is accurate."
<p align="justify">State's Attorney Kevin Lyons was out of town Monday and could not be reached for comment.
<p align="justify">Leslie Fark can be reached at (309) 686-3188 or lfark@pjstar.com.