DEATH OF TWO CHILDREN
According to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), two subjects were arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, 1st degree, a Class D felony. The subjects are Jonathan Daniel Welborn, age 30, and Brittany Nichole Hairston, age 26, both of Thomas Loop Road in Benton (Paron), Arkansas. They are the parents of the children.
SCSO spokesperson Lt. Silk stated that shortly before 10:00 pm Wednesday evening, Patrol Division deputies were called to the 16000 block of Highway 298, Paron, for a missing pick-up truck with two children inside. While en route, dispatchers indicated that the truck was located in a pond near that address.
In addition to SCSO units being dispatched, fire department and emergency medical personnel also responded. Two young children were located and treatment immediately began.
The two children, a 2 year old female and a 6 month old male, later died. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) were notified and responded to the scene. This investigation is active and more information needs to be obtained before further details can be released.
This article has an update from Oct 8, 2021 at Court rules appeal has no merit in 52-year sentencing of Paron man after children drowned