Laura Nicholson was arrested in Florida three months after her daughters drowned in Texas. Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff's Office.
FORT MYERS, Fla. - A mother has been arrested months after deputies say her two daughters had cocaine in their systems when they drowned in Texas three months ago.
Daughters drown
What we know:
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, deputies went to a home in Katy, Texas, on February 11, 2026, for the potential drowning of two toddlers.
According to investigators, the children, who were three and two years old, had cocaine in their systems when they died.
Mother charged after daughters drown
On May 8, 2026, the girls’ mother, Laura Nicholson, 25, was charged with two counts of injury to a child for her alleged involvement in their deaths.
Laura Nicholson captured in Florida
On May 11, the HCSO’s Violent Criminals Apprehension Team (VCAT) coordinated with the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force to arrest Nicholson in Florida and book her into the Lee County Jail.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not yet explained how the toddlers ingested the cocaine. It is also unclear when Nicholson will be moved from Florida to Texas to face the charges.
What they're saying:
In a post on social media, HCSO wrote, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two young toddlers — sisters — in our community. May these little ones rest in peace."
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which provided details on the investigation, charges, and arrest through official statements and social media posts.