Philadelphia Foster Mother Charged With Murder After Toddler Drowns in Harrogate Foster Home
Philadelphia County | Foster Care Oversight | Child Welfare Investigation
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A Philadelphia foster mother has been charged with third-degree murder following the drowning death of a 20-month-old toddler while in foster care, a case that has drawn scrutiny to delays in prosecution and oversight failures within the city’s child welfare system.
The child, Sy’vir Hill, died in April while placed in a foster home in the Harrowgate neighborhood of Philadelphia. According to court documents and a wrongful-death lawsuit, the toddler drowned after being left unsupervised in a bathtub despite being under state-approved foster care supervision.
Nine Months Passed Between Foster Care Death and Arrest
Nearly nine months elapsed between Sy’vir Hill’s death and the arrest of his foster mother, Apalosnia Watson, who now faces charges of third-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child in Philadelphia County Court.
The delay has prompted criticism from Hill’s biological mother, Sharee Collins, and her legal counsel, who argue that the death of a child in foster care should have been treated as a priority.
“If there’s a case that should be prioritized in our society, it’s the death of a one-year-old child,” said A.J. Thompson, the attorney representing Collins in a wrongful-death lawsuit against the child welfare agencies involved in the placement.
Medical Examiner Ruled Manner of Death a Homicide
In December — approximately eight months after the child’s death — the Philadelphia Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning and the manner of death as homicide.
Thompson has stated publicly that the ruling came only after civil litigation was initiated.
“If I didn’t file this lawsuit, that report would still be sitting on their desk,” Thompson said.
A spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office responded that death investigations vary in length and emphasized that the office’s priority is to conduct thorough and accurate investigations.
Affidavit Details Foster Child Left Unattended in Bathtub
According to a criminal affidavit, Watson told investigators she left three young children — ages four, two, and 20 months — unattended in a bathtub while she went downstairs after hearing a microwave.
The affidavit states Watson later found Sy’vir Hill motionless in the tub, attempted CPR, and called 911.
A responding Philadelphia police officer described Watson as visibly upset, screaming and crying, and repeatedly stating, “I don’t want to go to jail.”
Watson’s attorney told CBS News Philadelphia that she is devastated by the toddler’s death and maintains that she did not commit a crime.
Philadelphia Department of Human Services Confirms Foster Placement
The Philadelphia Department of Human Services confirmed that Sy’vir Hill was under foster care supervision at the time of his death and that two separate child welfare agencies were involved in the case. DHS declined to provide further details, citing confidentiality laws.
The involvement of multiple agencies has raised concerns among child welfare observers, who note that shared responsibility can weaken oversight and delay intervention when safety failures occur.
Wrongful-Death Lawsuit Alleges Foster Care Oversight Failures
Collins has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the child welfare agencies responsible for supervising the foster placement, alleging negligence and failure to ensure basic child safety standards.
The lawsuit claims Sy’vir Hill’s death was preventable and that adequate supervision could have averted the tragedy. Hill was one of multiple children placed in the foster home at the time.
Harrowgate Foster Care Case Raises Broader Oversight Questions
The death occurred in Harrowgate, a Philadelphia neighborhood where foster care placements operate under DHS oversight. The case has become a focal point in ongoing discussions about foster care safety in Philadelphia County, particularly for infants and toddlers.
Child welfare research has consistently shown that very young children are especially vulnerable in substitute care settings when supervision protocols break down.
“He Didn’t Deserve That”: Mother Speaks Publicly
In an interview with CBS News Philadelphia, Collins spoke about the loss of her son.
“He didn’t deserve that,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish it on nobody else.”
Her attorney argues the prolonged investigation and delay in charges reflect a broader failure to treat foster care deaths with urgency and transparency.
Preliminary Hearing Scheduled in Philadelphia County Court
A preliminary hearing in the criminal case against Watson is scheduled in Philadelphia County Court. The wrongful-death lawsuit remains pending.
As the legal process moves forward, the death of Sy’vir Hill continues to raise difficult questions about foster care oversight, accountability, and how the child welfare system responds when a child dies while under state supervision.
