A Florida woman who has spent nearly two years behind bars in connection with the drowning death of her toddler has changed her plea and been sentenced to prison. Nicole Laber, 31, entered a no-contest plea on September 16 to one count of aggravated manslaughter of a child in the June 17, 2023, death of her child, identified in court documents by the initials “PL.”
Collier Circuit Judge John McGowan accepted the plea and sentenced Laber to 10 years in prison, with credit for time served, followed by an additional 10 years of probation. Court records detail a chaotic scene when deputies first arrived at the Laber residence more than two years ago. Authorities reported that Laber was crying hysterically and struggling to speak.
Investigators observed a dog’s bowl on the kitchen counter alongside a towel near the front door. Nearby, they found a blue marijuana pipe with residue and a medical marijuana container prescribed to Laber. In the bathroom, deputies noted that the bathtub appeared wet and contained fecal matter. The drain was blocked with what appeared to be a toy, according to the incident report.
Initially, Laber told investigators that her child drowned in the family dog’s water bowl. Two days later, on June 19, 2023, she contacted authorities to revise her statement. Her husband, Shane Laber, later told deputies he suspected she had not been truthful about the incident. When he confronted her, she admitted that the toddler had drowned in the bathtub.
Investigators ultimately determined that Laber left the child unattended in a bathtub while strapped into a booster seat. The seat tipped over, trapping the child beneath the water.
The tragic case has drawn widespread attention due to the shifting accounts given by Laber and the troubling details of the investigation. Prosecutors argued her negligence directly caused the toddler’s death, while her defense maintained she had not intended harm.
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During proceedings, the court acknowledged the emotional and complicated circumstances surrounding the case but emphasized the serious responsibility parents bear for ensuring their children’s safety.
“The plea and sentence reflect the gravity of this tragedy while providing some measure of accountability,” prosecutors said following the sentencing.
Laber will remain in state custody to serve her prison term before beginning a decade of probation. The case closes a painful chapter for the family while raising broader concerns about child safety and parental responsibility in similar circumstances.