In July 2022, Dori Scott experienced the unthinkable after she signed up her 4-year-old son, Israel Scottfor swimming lessons that eventually led to his death.
Now nearly seven months later, swimming coach, Lexie Tenhuisenwas formally charged with manslaughter and was eventually released on a $10,000 bond.
The drowning mother is still looking for answers about her son’s death even though the swimming coach has arrested her
However, in this exclusive TSRI UpdateDori Scott opens up about what happened before her son’s tragic death prompts their family to charge more as they continue to search for answers despite Tenhuisen’s arrest
“Nothing can bring him back,” Scott said Shade roomJustin Carter’s “worst day of her life. We don’t even know how he drowned.”
#TSRInvestigatesUpdatez: A mother still fights for justice after her 4-year-old son drowned https://t.co/gmSDUW6xc3 pic.twitter.com/FsO0BCDLUP
– TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) February 1, 2023
She said it was the second day of swimming lessons with her son Israel and ten other children, under the guidance of the 66-year-old from Tenhuisen.
Tenhuisen is well known in the Augusta area as a swimming coach offering affordable rates for lessons.
One day, Scott said the guide told parents they wouldn’t be allowed to watch their kids swim. That was the first red flag, she said.
Boy dies on second day of swimming lessons, instructor forbids parents to sit by the pool
However, Scott said she followed the rules and waited in her car until class was over, and asked Tenhuisen how her son’s first day was.
Shade room went through employee feedback reports and found that Tenhuisen maintains a rule among parents in swimming practice.
The rule stems from the fact that, reportedly, children of Izzy’s age would be too distracted if their father or mother were also present.
Tenhuisen went on to say that the second day was supposed to let the child feel comfortable with the head submerged in the water.
All of this takes place at the shallow end of the pool, about 3 feet deep.
One of Tenhuisen’s exercises involved submerging the toy to the bottom of the tank and seeing how much each child could get.
The instructor had finished the session and was drying off when her granddaughter noticed Israel Scott at the end of the pool.
“There’s a kid in the pool!” The witness shouted as the fellow mother performed CPR until the EMTs arrived
“There’s a kid in the pool!” shouted a witness.
Tenhuisen then jumped into the pool, pulling the child out and then to the side. She claims the child was only underwater for about 15 seconds.
But when she pulled Izzy out of the water, he softened before screaming for help to get the attention of other mothers.
One of the mothers happened to be a nurse and performed CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene. The mother told police that the boy was still colored, but had foam coming out of his mouth and nose.
“I ran around asking people for help, and when I asked her (Tenhuisen),” she more or less shrugged and said “she doesn’t know,” said Izzy’s mother.
He was declared dead the next day.
Family struggles to pass law to protect children from drowning, instructor charged
For seven months, his family fought to pass legislation that would protect children from drowning during swim lessons.
Then in December 2022, they were informed that Tenhuisen had an arrest warrant for manslaughter.
“Izzy is not a case or a desk file, nor an article. He was a child whose loss broke the heart of our community,” said District Attorney Jared Williams.
Instructor swims out with $10,000 bond as Scott family intends to file civil lawsuit over wrongful death
Izzy’s mother told TSR Investigates she doesn’t want to imprison anyone for the rest of their lives. My problem is accountability.”
Tenhuisen was eventually issued with a $10,000 bond. She did not respond to any attempts by Shade room for comment as of Thursday.
Scott’s family said they also intend to file a civil wrongful death lawsuit against the swimming coach as they await her next court appearance.
The boy’s mother added that she wants to set up a foundation in Izzy’s name to educate parents and family, so that they never have to go through what she went through.
TSR Investigates explores cold cases and news stories of particular interest that are rarely presented in the mainstream media.
