Death of 3 Year Old Loic Rogers Ruled an Accident
The tragic death of 3 year old Loic Rogers was ruled an accident. Loic Rogers drowned in a neighbors septic tank. The possibility of criminal negligence charges could still be filed.
So said Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan on Tuesday, after his office spent much of the past two weeks trying to determine exactly how the 3-year-old boy drowned in the septic tank of a friend’s house. Mark Rogers, who has custody of Loic and two siblings, called authorities at about 7:30 the night of Jan. 24 to report his son missing. The father said they were visiting friends at an east Kalispell home for dinner. While preparing to leave, Mark said, he took Loic outside and aimed him toward the car, which was warming up. (The Missoulin)
UPDATE I: Tommi Cates given Endangerment citation issued in toddler’s death
Tommi Cates, the woman who lives on the property and whose house was being visited has been cited with a misdemeanor is this terrible tragic accident.
The woman who lives in the east Kalispell home where 3-year-old Loic Rogers was found drowned in a septic tank was cited Thursday for negligent endangerment, a misdemeanor, by Flathead County officials.
Tommi Cates has until Feb. 21 to appear in Justice Court on the matter. The charge carries penalties of up to a $1,000 fine, a year in jail, or both.
Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan made the decision to charge Cates with the misdemeanor after reviewing reports from officers involved in the search for the youngster, office administrator Vickie Eggum said.
Cates, she added, was “very cooperative. She feels horrible about what happened, just like everybody else.” (The Missoulian)