Man Arrested for Drowning Toddler at Lake Draper

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A 29-year-old man was arrested for the drowning death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter.

Police said Donnie Reeser repeatedly dunked Allie Croom's head under water at Lake Stanley Draper Thursday over and over until she drowned.

However, the girl's mother said what happened was not murder, but police said it was "abundantly clear" this was no accident.

"From talking to witnesses at the scene it appears that this was an intentional act," said Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Gary Knight.

Reeser's record revealed he has had three protective orders against him dating back to 2000. He was also sentenced to five years in prison for assault and battery in 2006 but ended up only having to serve probation. If Reeser is found guilty in Allie's death, he could face the death penalty.

"We booked him into the Oklahoma County jail. There was no record of him yet having an attorney," Knight said.

According to Allie's mother, the girl walked out of the water on her own. Shortly after, Allie began acting strange and coughed up water. She was then taken to the hospital where she died.