Chicago Father Pleads Guilty to Attempted Drowning of 2-Year-Old Son

Lyft driver's 911 call prompted police to save child from bathtub

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:51pm

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An extreme close-up of a wet, cracked bathroom tile with a single drop of water reflecting a faint red light, conveying the stark, gritty aftermath of a failed drowning attempt.A crime scene photograph captures the chilling aftermath of a failed drowning attempt, exposing the fragility of a child's life and the urgency for vigilant community action.Chicago Today

A 32-year-old South Shore father has pleaded guilty to attempting to drown his 2-year-old son in a bathtub, a crime that was stopped only because a concerned Lyft driver called 911, prompting Chicago police officers to force their way into the apartment and save the child.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of vigilant community members reporting suspected child abuse, as well as the challenges of enforcing orders of protection and addressing domestic violence issues that can escalate to life-threatening situations.

The details

Prosecutors said the incident occurred on August 25, 2023, when a Lyft driver dropped off Jeremiah Campbell and his 2-year-old son at an address in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive. The driver immediately called 911, alarmed by Campbell's statements about 'conspiracies and drowning his son... as a sacrifice to Jehovah.' At the same time, Campbell called 911 reporting that his son had drowned in the bathtub. When police arrived, they forced entry into the apartment and found Campbell pulling the boy from the water, with the child coughing up water.

  • On August 25, 2023, a Lyft driver dropped off Campbell and his son at an address in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive.
  • Around 10 a.m. on August 25, 2023, the Lyft driver called 911 about Campbell's statements.
  • At nearly the same time, Campbell called 911 reporting his son had drowned.
  • In September 2023, Campbell pleaded guilty to the attempted drowning.
  • In April 2021, Campbell was placed on 36 months of probation for a domestic violence case involving the child's mother.

The players

Jeremiah Campbell

A 32-year-old South Shore father who pleaded guilty to attempting to drown his 2-year-old son in a bathtub.

Lyft driver

A Lyft driver who dropped off Campbell and his son and then immediately called 911, alarmed by Campbell's statements about drowning his son.

Chicago police officers

Officers who forced their way into the apartment and saved the 2-year-old child from drowning.

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What they’re saying

“The driver told a 911 operator that Campbell was 'talking about conspiracies and drowning his son... as a sacrifice to Jehovah.'”

— Lyft driver

What’s next

Jeremiah Campbell was sentenced to 12 years in prison and must serve 85% of the time. The judge who sentenced him was Laura Ayala-Gonzalez.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical role community members can play in reporting suspected child abuse, as well as the challenges of enforcing orders of protection and addressing domestic violence issues that can escalate to life-threatening situations. It underscores the importance of vigilance and swift action to protect vulnerable children.