SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE

At approximately 3:30PM today, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a 3 year old child was found unresponsive in a swimming pool and was not breathing.  The location of the incident was the 1300 block of 14^th Avenue in Indian River County. The call came from a neighbor who was on scene with a cell phone.

Lieutenant Lonnie Rich was in the area when the call was dispatched and was on scene in less than one minute. Lt. Rich ran to the back yard and took the child, Dakota Stiles, from his parents’ arms and began CPR.

EMS arrived on scene about 2 minutes after Lt. Rich and took over resuscitation efforts on Dakota.  He was transported to Indian River Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:09PM.

The child’s parents, Summer and Todd Stiles were briefly interviewed at the scene. Summer Stiles was transported to the Sheriff’s Office where she was questioned by detectives. Todd Stiles and Dakota’s 13 year old sister remained on scene and later went to stay with relatives.

As of this writing, Summer Stiles is still speaking with investigators but is expected to be released as the investigation continues, our crime scene unit is at the hospital with Dakota, and detectives remain on scene at the 14^th Avenue home.  Criminal charges may be forthcoming.

Previously, on July 12, 2013, a neighbor located Dakota walking in her backyard. The neighbor took him home but after repeated knocks at the Stiles’ door (3 to 4 minutes), there was no answer so the neighbor took him to her house and called the Sheriff’s Office.

Our deputy arrived and met with Summer and Todd Stiles. Mr. Stiles reported that he works nights and normally sleeps during the day. The deputy asked Mrs. Stiles if her children were accounted for and upon learning that Dakota was not in the house, she stated, “I guess I’m missing one.”

DCF was notified and a few days later a warrant for Summer Stiles was obtained for child neglect. Stiles had gone out of town when the warrant was issued but upon her return, she turned herself into the county jail on July 23, 2013.  She posted the $2,500 bond and was released the same day.

Additional updates will be released when information is obtained.