Arizona
Records: Toddler found alive in hospital morgue after being pronounced dead by Arizona doctor
GILBERT, AZ — An Arizona toddler was found breathing inside a Gilbert hospital morgue after being declared dead hours earlier by an Arizona doctor, according to police records.
A police report and body camera video reviewed by the ABC15 Investigators show that two Gilbert police officers saw signs of life multiple times, but the toddler was still taken to the hospital’s “cold room,” which is also considered to be the morgue.
One officer wrote in the police report that the baby was pronounced dead “in error” by the Mercy Gilbert doctor even after a tense exchange about a pulse possibly being detected.
The 18-month-old was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after he was found inside the family’s pool on Super Bowl Sunday in February.
It has taken months for the Gilbert police to release public records related to the near-drowning.
The ABC15 Investigators reviewed a half dozen body camera videos, including videos from the initial drowning scene and videos inside the hospital. Most of the videos are heavily blurred, and most of the audio has been muted, but one critical moment was captured between the doctor and the officer.
According to the police report, the officer wrote that a nurse in another room said: “I have a pulse.”
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The officer wrote that when he tried to alert the doctor who was with the family in another room, the doctor appeared to dismiss the concerns, “[The doctor] arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.”
Records show that shortly after that exchange, the doctor went on to declare the baby dead.
Over the next hour, two Gilbert police officers continued to document signs of life in their police report.
One officer wrote, “The release of air was audible and visible,” later writing, “It also began to sound like [redacted] was gasping for air.”
The report goes on to say that when medical staff went to move the boy’s body to the morgue, the officer wrote that she “observed what appeared to be another audible gasp.”
That was not the last time she heard signs of life, either.
While inside the morgue, the officer said, “I again observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release, which was now almost an hour later.”
A nurse who was there said those sounds could be a response to efforts to save the toddler.
Some of the last audio recordings heard on the body camera videos were of an officer telling the family that they could say goodbye.
The report says, hours later, at 11:52 p.m., the Medical Examiner’s transport showed up and found the toddler was breathing inside the hospital morgue. He was then flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for treatment.
An MRI said that the baby had brain damage, and we are told he will need lifelong care.
An attorney representing the family declined to comment.
Mercy Gilbert said in a statement, “This is a heartbreaking situation. We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care. Out of respect for the patient’s privacy, we cannot discuss details. We continue to work with the family and their representative. Patient safety and exceptional care is our highest priority.”
HAVE A TIP? Email Investigator Nicole Grigg at nicole.grigg@abc15.com.
With 30 days until the Arizona Cardinals’ 2026 opener, let’s look back at their 1930 season.
We continue the countdown to the start of the Arizona Cardinals’ regular season. Today, Friday, August 14, is 30 days away from the Arizona Cardinals’ regular-season opener on Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
With 30 days until Week 1, let’s look back at the 1930 season for the Cardinals.
A look back at the 1930 season for the Cardinals
The Cardinals were a middling team in 1930. They finished 5-6-2. They started the season 1-4-2 but finished the season winning four of their final six games.
In an 11-team league, they were sixth in points scored and sixth in points allowed.
Fullback Ernie Nevers and left guard Walt Kiesling were both All-Pros.
Nevers rushed for six touchdowns and passed for three. He made nine extra points and a field goal.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Netflix is turning up the temperature with a new addition to its popular reality shows.
A new reality series with a working title of “Arizona Hot” is in production by the streaming entertainment giant.
The series will follow a group of new college graduates navigating “reunions, rivalries and romance” in Arizona, according to a Netflix release.
As producers put it, “it’s a dry heat — but things are about to get very steamy.”
No information about casting or a cast list was shared with the announcement.
The cast, all in their 20s, will find new careers, pursue romances and navigate friendships and rivalries, Netflix said, adding, “they’ll quickly discover that adulting hits differently at 110 degrees.”
The new show’s executive producers are Matt Solomon of Below Deck and Real Housewives and Sandy Varo Jarrell.
“Arizona Hot” is set to join Netflix’s reality series catalog that includes hits like Selling Sunset and Love Is Blind.
More details about the new series are expected to be announced at a later date.
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YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent and his fiancée have been sentenced for defrauding food assistance programs in Arizona.
Saul Rivas Hau and Hilda Sanchez each received 36 months of supervised probation and were ordered to pay $26,424 in restitution after pleading guilty to felony theft in Yuma County Superior Court, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Thursday.
Prosecutors say the two conspired to fraudulently collect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from March 2022 through August 2025, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits from February 2023 through January 2024.
The total loss to the programs surpassed $25,000, with the crimes committed all while Hau was employed as a CBP agent.
A state grand jury had previously indicted both on charges including conspiracy, fraudulent schemes, theft and forgery.
“Programs like SNAP and WIC exist to help Arizona families put food on the table — not to be exploited for personal gain,” Mayes said in a written statement. “My office will continue working with our federal and state partners to hold accountable anyone who defrauds these important programs.”
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Copyright 2026 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
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