Brian Hamacher

Man Arrested in May Drowning of Young Brothers in North Lauderdale

Authorities say there's an arrest warrant for the boys' mother

More than three months after two young brothers drowned in a pool at a North Lauderdale apartment complex, a man who was supposed to be watching them has been charged in their deaths.

John Lynn, 24, was arrested Tuesday on two counts of aggravated manslaughter in the May 22 drowning deaths of 6-year-old Ja'Kye Joseph and 5-year-old Branario Minto, Broward Sheriff's Office officials said.

BSO officials said they've also obtained an arrest warrant for the boys' mother, Wildine Joseph. 

The young brothers died after they were pulled from the pool at the complex at 1200 Southwest 50th Avenue. The boys' mother said they must have jumped the fence and got into the water.

Investigators said surveillance video showed the brothers unsupervised and running to the pool area around 7:16 p.m., but detectives said the 911 call was received at 9:33 p.m., and the brothers had been submerged under water for almost two hours prior to being found.

"I'm so sorry, if I was there I could have saved them on time," Joseph said at the time.

An arrest warrant said Lynn was supposed to be the boys' caregiver, and his "culpable negligence" caused their deaths.

Lynn was being held on $500,000 bond Thursday, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.

Anyone with information on Joseph's whereabouts is asked to call BSO at 954-764-4357.

Contact Us