No criminal charges in Whiteland student's drowning death

Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 5:01 AM

no-criminal-charges-in-whiteland-student-s-drowning-death

The investigation into the drowning death of a Whiteland High School student will not result in criminal charges.

On May 16, Alaina Dildine, 15, was swimming during a physical education class. First responders found Dildine underwater and beneath the bulkhead of the school’s pool. Despite lifesaving measures, shortly thereafter, she was pronounced deceased.

Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner stated in a press release, “based upon the materials submitted by the Sheriff’s Office, this office has determined that no criminal laws were violated by school employees. It is not the function of this office, however, to determine whether any negligence on behalf of school officials contributed to this tragedy. Such a determination would need to be made in the civil justice system.”

According to the prosecutor’s release, an autopsy was conducted by the Johnson County Coroner’s Office and the cause of death was determined to be both drowning and seizure disorder with the manner of death being ruled as an accident.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, by agreement with the Clark Pleasant Police Department, assumed responsibility for the criminal investigation into Dildine’s death. The results of the investigation were forwarded to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.

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