Autopsy reports reveal nothing about how three Pueblo girls drowned
Update:
The Pueblo County Coroner’s Office says the drowning deaths of three girls Monday appear to have been an accident.
Autopsies have been completed on Azucena Gandarilla, 3, and Amaya Gandarilla, 6, as well their teenage babysitter, Joo Lee, 17.
All three died of fresh water drowning. There were no signs of trauma.
The autopsies did not provide any information about the circumstances surrounding the drownings.
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Original Report:
The family of two young girls who drowned in a Pueblo pool along with their babysitter hope autopsies explain what transpired in the moments before their death.
Sisters Azucena Gandarilla, 3, and Amaya Gandarilla, 6, as well their teenage babysitter, Joo Lee, 17, drowned at Pueblo Grande Mobile Home Park Monday afternoon.
Despite CPR efforts by officers and others, in an attempt to revive the victims, the three were later pronounced dead by the Coroner’s Office.
“It’s unreal, it still hasn’t sunk in. We still can’t wrap our heads around it,” said the girls’ great aunt Monica Polanco.
Polanco said both Azucena and Amaya knew how to swim.
“My brother would always take my kids, his kids and his grandkids. That’s why we don’t know what actually happened,” said Polanco.
The family hope autopsy reports explain what happened leading up to the drowning.
“We don’t know much. All we know is that they are gone. And it was tragic accident,” said Polanco.
Azucena and Amaya loved to dance, sing and laugh. Polanco said they were full of energy. She said Amaya was a “girly-girl” and Azucena was a “tom boy.”
“Always giggling and running around. Very happy, happy little girls,” said Polanco.
Polanco said Azucena, Amaya and Joo Lee will be buried together. The little girls’ family started an online fundraiser to help cover the costs of flying family from Tucson to Pueblo.
