SPRING HILL, Fla. – Two Spring Hill men have been charged in the death of a child, among multiple drug charges.
On Wednesday at 3:39 a.m., the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call advising a teenage girl was found in a bathroom unresponsive and not breathing.
The caller told emergency operators that another person on scene was performing CPR on the teenage girl.
Hernando County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene and transported the teen to a local hospital where she later died.
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Detectives at the scene interviewed two men, Joshua Ware, 18, and James Briski, 24, who were at the residence on Bancroft Avenue in Spring Hill when the incident occurred.
An investigation showed that Ware arrived at the Bancroft Avenue residence around midnight with the victim already unconscious. Ware and Briski then carried the victim from Ware’s vehicle into the residence. Ware said the victim appeared to be overheating due to recently ingesting cocaine.
The men proceeded to put the victim in a bathtub where they then filled it with water, ice, and packages of frozen food in an effort to reduce her body temperature.
Briski said the victim’s condition continued to worsen as time passed. He said the victim was having trouble breathing and was unable to communicate. At approximately 3:30 a.m., Briski said the victim stopped breathing.
After two minutes of the victim not breathing the men called 911. Ware disposed of the cocaine and removed the frozen food bags from the bathtub.
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Ware then started to perform chest compressions until emergency medical responders arrived on scene.
During questioning, Briski told deputies that Ware had Xanax and cocaine in his vehicle.
Following interviews both men were charged in connection the victim’s death.
Joshua Ware was charged with Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child, two counts of Possession of a Control Substance, and Trafficking in Fentanyl. Ware was transported to the Hernando County Detention where his bond was set at $170,000.
Briski was charged with Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child and Possession of Cocaine. Briski was transported to the Hernando County Detention where his bond was set at $30,000.
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