Drowning mars Little Elm festivities
By LAURA CHILDRESS

Tragedy marred Little Elm’s July Jubilee festivities Friday as a 3-year-old Carrollton girl drowned near the swim beach in Little Elm Park.

According to Little Elm police, a swimmer found the body of Natalie Escobar in shallow water 12 to 15 feet from the shore shortly after her father and uncle, who had been watching her, discovered she was missing and began searching for her.

Little Elm emergency personnel attempted to revive Escobar, but were unable. She was transported by CareFlite to Children’s Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Although Escobar’s death was ruled accidental, Little Elm officials note the case has been referred to a Denton County grand jury to decide whether criminal charges are warranted.

Escobar was the first of seven to drown in area lakes over the holiday weekend, including four in Lewisville Lake.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials noted the weekend was the deadliest on area lakes in recent history.

According to TP&W 15 have died on area lakes so far this year.