Father charged in baby’s drowning death

Published 12:52 pm Friday, August 17, 2012

ANOKA, Minn. — The father of the 11-month-old girl who drowned in the family bathtub is facing manslaughter charges in Anoka County.

Prosecutors say 28-year-old Joe Martin, of Fridley, put Maddie and her 4-year-old sister Allie in the bathtub last October, then fell asleep on the living room couch. He awoke to Allie’s cries that her younger sister wasn’t moving.

Maddie’s grandmother, Sherry Schmacher, tells KSTP-TV (http://tinyurl.com/95lko8z ) her grandchild died 11 days later when she was taken off life support.

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Anoka County Assistant District Attorney Wade Kish has charged Martin with second-degree manslaughter. A court appearance is scheduled Wednesday.

Anoka County Court Administration records did not list an attorney for Martin.