Woman charged with attempting to murder her 3-year-old son

A woman charged with attempted murder allegedly left her 3-year-old son to drown in a bathtub in her South Shore home, according to police.

Celeste Christian, 21, allegedly left her son unattended in a bathtub about 9:45 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of East 79th Street, according to Chicago police.

She returned to the tub and found her son limp and floating in the water, police said.

The child was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital with fluid in his lungs, according to police. He was in critical condition.

Police arrested Christian and notified the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, police said.

She was charged with a felony count of attempted first degree murder and a felony count of aggravated battery of a child, police said.

DCFS spokesman Neil Skene said the department opened an investigation into Christian on Monday for allegations of inadequate supervision, torture and “substantial risk of physical injury or environment injurious to health and welfare.”

The department also investigated Christian in February for an allegation of providing “inadequate food,” but that allegation was determined to be unfounded, Skene said.

The 3-year-old boy remained hospitalized Friday but “has been removed from the ventilator and is talking,” Skene said. A younger child was with an aunt. DCFS plans to take protective custody of both children.

Christian was being held without bail, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office. Her next court date was scheduled for Oct. 2.