Police, neighbors speak after Warwick parents charged in 3-year-old’s drowning

Editor’s note: Discretion advised, as some may find details of the following story disturbing.

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Police documents are shedding new light on the drowning of a 3-year-old boy in Warwick this summer which led to the arrest of his parents.

Back on Aug. 28, a 3-year-old David “D.J.” Holloway drowned in a pool on Gorham Avenue in Warwick.

“In August, initially, patrollers responded and he was investigated by the detective division. Now, almost three months later, we have decided to bring criminal charges on the biological parents,” Capt. John McAniff told ABC 6 News.

According to police records, the parents did not know that D.J. escaped to swim in a neighbor’s pool with his 13-year-old brother, Ryan, who their father, David Holloway II, says is autistic and cannot comprehend danger.

David Holloway II and Kaitlyn Nolan were arrested on Friday after a lengthy investigation.

Nolan is facing five counts of child neglect and endangerment, Holloway is facing five similar counts and additional cruelty charges related to the death of a dog in the home.

“All I know is that it is a sad situation that happened. Neglect is neglect. That is what happens sometimes. It is just sad a little baby lost his life,” said Marc Cocio, a resident on Gorham Avenue.

Police records say that D.J. was seen on a security camera getting into the swimming pool. Once emergency crews arrived on the scene, they not only had to deal with the drowning, but say they found the family was living in conditions not fit for children or pets.

“Inside of the house, there were deplorable conditions. We served a search warrant and what we determined is that the children and the animals were living in deplorable conditions,” McAniff explained.

In response to the horrific discovery of how the family had been living, neighbors expressed their sadness.

“It is a very sad situation. I have seven kids of my own and everybody is grown up, I do have two left. You really have to pay attention and you have to stay on the children — and the 3-year-old child– you have to be with that child constantly. It is a sad thing that happened,” Cocio said.

The children were turned over to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Holloway II and Nolan are expected back in court in early 2024.