Nationwide — Jayde Wooten, a 4-year-old African American girl from Macon, Georgia, sadly died after her father found her upside down inside a large trash can filled with water and fish at their home. Her family and neighbors tried to save her with CPR before she was taken to a local medical facility, where she was pronounced dead. Authorities are now investigating how she ended up inside the container.
The father told a deputy that he had just arrived home when he noticed Jayde was not in her bedroom. He searched inside the house and around the property but could not find her. He then heard the girl’s mother scream and immediately rushed back inside to see what had happened.
He found Jayde upside down in the water-filled trash can inside a bathroom. The father pulled her out and carried her outside while her mother ran to a nearby home for help. A neighbor and another resident then took turns performing CPR on the child as they waited for emergency responders.
According to People, Bibb County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the home on the 1200 block of Rocky Creek Road shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, after someone reported a medical emergency. Deputies provided aid when they arrived, and firefighters and paramedics later took over. Emergency crews continued treating Jayde before transporting her to a nearby medical facility, where she was pronounced dead.
Investigators have not explained how the 4-year-old ended up inside the trash can or what happened before her father found her. The Macon-Bibb County Coroner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy was performed, but the results remain pending. The findings could help determine the official cause and circumstances of her death. The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has not announced any arrests or charges, and the investigation remains ongoing.
A GoFundMe campaign has also been created to help Jayde’s family cover funeral expenses. The fundraiser said her parents are dealing with the loss while also facing the financial responsibilities that come with arranging a funeral. It has so far raised over $3,000. More information about the circumstances surrounding the child’s death could be released as the investigation and autopsy process continue.