Chicago Man Accused of Trying to Drown His 2-Year-Old Son in Bathtub as Sacrifice to Jehovah

A man in Chicago has been arrested after he allegedly tried to drown his 2-year-old son in a bathtub as part of a sacrifice to Jehovah, according to authorities.

On Aug. 25, a Lyft driver drove 29-year-old Jeremiah Campbell and his son to a residence on South Shore Drive, the Chicago Tribune reported.

During that ride, the driver told police they reportedly overheard Campbell talking to the boy about how he would be sacrificed to Jehovah by drowning him, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Later that same night, police said someone from the same South Shore Drive address called Chicago Police and stated their son drowned in the bath.

Officers headed to the home and knocked on the door, but there was no response, WGN-TV reported.

The officers then reportedly looked in a window and saw a man near the bathtub, so they made their way inside. When Campbell spotted the officers, he reportedly removed the toddler from the bathtub, WGN-TV reported.

Police were able to rescue the boy and paramedics quickly took him to a nearby hospital.

Police accuse Campbell, who was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, of putting the boy “in the bathtub and depriving him of oxygen,” the Chicago Tribune reported.

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In May 2021, a judge issued a protection order against Campbell, which barred him from making contact with his son, the mother of his son and other relatives, officials said.

Campbell was arrested and charged with attempted murder, child endangerment and violating an order of protection, authorities said.

He is currently being held without bail.