Smith

An Ames man has been arrested on a pair of felony charges in connection with an incident during which he allegedly neglected a 14-month-old child who drowned in a bathtub at a Marshalltown apartment last September.

Andrew Donald Smith, 24, was taken into custody by the Marshalltown Police Department (MPD) on Wednesday and charged with child endangerment — death, a Class B felony, and neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, a Class C felony.

According to a criminal complaint, the MPD was called to respond to a report of a possible drowning and unconscious child on Sept. 9, 2025.

“(The child) was taking a bath in the home, and Andrew was the only parent having custody or control of the child at the time. The investigation found that Andrew knowingly acted in a manner that created a substantial risk to (the child’s) physical, mental, and emotional health and safety,” the report reads. “Andrew willfully deprived (the child) of appropriate supervision as (the child) was 14 months old by leaving (the child) alone in the bath tub and resulting in the death of (the child).”

His bond has been set at $50,000 cash only, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the Marshall County Courthouse. As of Thursday evening, Smith remained in custody at the Marshall County Jail. A no-contact order has also been issued between Smith and the child’s direct family.