You step into a scene that feels like a nightmare next door: a grandmother returns from shopping to find two toddlers unresponsive in a backyard pool while adults slept inside. You learn immediately that a momentary lapse, an open door, and a pool without barriers can lead to irreversible tragedy.
This post will walk through what happened, how investigators and family responded, and the safety steps families can use to prevent similar accidents. Keep following to understand the facts, what officials have said so far, and the practical precautions that matter most.
Details of the Incident
Jenny Callazzo found both 18‑month‑old twins, Locklyn and Loreli Callazzo, unresponsive in the family’s backyard pool. Investigators say the death appears accidental and the household adults were asleep inside when the children left the house.
Timeline of Events
Family members say the twins were last seen inside the home earlier in the morning. Sometime before Jenny discovered them, the twins left through a back door that had been left open.
Emergency responders were called after Jenny pulled the children from the water and began CPR. Paramedics continued life‑saving measures but the twins were pronounced dead at the scene or shortly after transport, according to reports.
Police opened an investigation and have not reported signs of foul play. The family later established a fundraiser to help with immediate expenses following the deaths.
Discovery by Jenny Callazzo
Jenny Callazzo discovered Locklyn and Loreli in the pool and immediately began CPR on both children. She found them unconscious at the bottom of the backyard pool and then summoned emergency responders.
Eyewitness accounts and local reports describe Jenny as the person who pulled the twins from the water and attempted resuscitation. Officials later confirmed she called 911 and cooperated with investigators at the scene.
Role of the Great‑Grandmother
The family reported that the great‑grandmother, who lives in the home and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, accidentally left the back door open. Investigators say the open door provided the means for the twins to exit the house and reach the pool.
Police have treated the incident as an accidental drowning and have not indicated criminal charges tied to intentional harm. The great‑grandmother’s cognitive condition has been mentioned in multiple reports as a likely factor in how the door was left unsecured.
Condition of the Backyard Pool
Observers described the backyard pool as murky and covered with algae at the time of the incident. Photographs shared in subsequent news coverage show green, clouded water rather than a clear, maintained pool.
Pool safety features—such as a locked gate, alarm, or a barrier compliant with local codes—were not reported as active at the time. Officials have not released detailed technical findings about pool maintenance, but the visible condition and unlocked access are central to public accounts of how Locklyn and Loreli reached the water.
For background reporting on the discovery and family statements, see reporting on the twins’ deaths in local and national outlets like The Daily Beast’s coverage of the incident (reporting on Loreli and Locklyn Callazzo) at https://www.thedailybeast.com/twin-toddlers-drown-in-pool-after-great-grandma-with-alzheimers-leaves-door-open.
Aftermath, Investigation, and Safety Lessons
The family and neighbors rallied quickly, emergency crews performed CPR, and authorities opened a noncriminal inquiry into how the toddlers reached the pool. Officials and a child-safety expert highlighted steps households can take to prevent similar tragedies.
Family Response and Community Support
The children’s mother, Jenny Callazzo, and the extended family received immediate medical attention for the toddlers and later grief support from neighbors. A local GoFundMe was created to cover funeral and family expenses and raised early donations within days.
Community members organized meal trains and offered childcare for the siblings still at home. Neighbors described shock and frequent visits to the family’s property to offer condolences.
Local media coverage prompted wider offers of counseling from nearby hospitals and social-service agencies. The family declined to discuss private medical details but accepted practical help for housing and bills.
Official Investigation Findings
Police confirmed first responders found the two 18-month-old siblings unresponsive in the backyard pool and pronounced them deceased at the hospital. Investigators indicated the incident did not initially appear criminal in nature and continued to examine the timeline.
Authorities reported the back door had been left open, allowing the toddlers to access the yard. They checked gate and fence conditions, interviewed household members, and reviewed when adults were asleep versus awake.
Medical examiners handled cause-of-death determinations and toxicology as standard procedure. Officials urged public patience while they complete interviews and any formal reports.
Expert Advice from Laura Gamino
Laura Gamino, Injury Prevention Coordinator for Trauma at OU Health, emphasized that drowning is rapid and often silent, especially for toddlers. She advised that parents treat water access as an immediate hazard and assume a child can reach it within seconds.
Gamino recommended layered protections: four-foot fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates; door alarms for any exterior exits; and supervision systems such as pool covers or alarmed wristbands. She also urged formal swimming lessons for children when age-appropriate and CPR training for all caregivers.
Finally, Gamino stressed routine checks of any adult in the home who has cognitive impairments, noting that conditions like Alzheimer’s can affect judgment and memory and may require specific care plans or supervised living arrangements.
Pool Safety Measures for Households
Install a vertical-bar fence at least four feet high with a self-latching gate that opens outward and a latch out of small children’s reach. Complement the fence with door alarms on all exterior doors and window locks on ground-floor windows.
Keep pool water clear and maintain chemical balance; murky water can hide a child and delay rescue. Store life jackets, a reaching pole, and a ring buoy beside the pool. Post emergency numbers and a simple CPR algorithm near entry points.
Set a household rule: one designated adult watches the pool at all times and uses a phone only for emergencies. For homes with adults who have cognitive decline, create an account with local care services or use monitored check-ins to ensure exterior doors remain secured.
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