SIMI VALLEY : Jacuzzi Owner Sued in Girl’s Drowning

A Simi Valley couple whose 16-month-old daughter drowned in a back-yard Jacuzzi during a party last summer at the home of another Simi Valley resident have filed a suit claiming the Jacuzzi owner is responsible for the death.

In the suit, filed Tuesday in Ventura County Superior Court, Samuel R. Walker, 28, and his wife, Lisa Walker, 32, contend that Thomas DeBoo “failed to exercise reasonable caution and care,” leading to the drowning of Marisa Lee Walker on July 28 at DeBoo’s Granville Avenue residence.

The drowning occurred while the Walkers, including Marisa and her two sisters, ages 5 and 8, were at a party at DeBoo’s house. About 9:50 p.m., the parents and other adults realized that the toddler was missing. Marisa was found in the back-yard Jacuzzi.

The drowning was initially investigated as a homicide, Simi Valley Police Sgt. Bob Gardner said Wednesday. The Walkers, who were found to be intoxicated “to at least a noticeable degree” at the time of the drowning, were among those questioned by police, Lt. Robert Klamser said earlier.

No charges were filed in the case, Gardner said.

Lisa Walker declined to comment on the suit Wednesday, except to say that she and her husband waited more than six months to file the claim “because we were just going through a lot of other mental things.”

The Walkers’ suit requests an unspecified amount of money from DeBoo for hospital and burial costs, psychological counseling expenses and “loss of comfort, society, love and protection of the deceased child.”

DeBoo could not be reached for comment.