Apalosnia Watson faces third-degree murder and child endangerment over the death of 20-month-old Sy’vir Hill.
PHILADELPHIA — Police arrested a foster mother last month in the death of Sy’vir Hill, a 20-month-old who drowned April 15 in a Harrowgate bathtub, after the Medical Examiner ruled the case a homicide in December. Apalosnia Watson, 39, is charged with third-degree murder and endangering the welfare of children.
The charging documents outline a brief absence, a filled tub and three very young children left unsupervised. Investigators say that sequence, combined with the homicide ruling, led prosecutors to file criminal counts nine months after the child’s death. The arrest comes as Hill’s mother pursues a separate wrongful-death suit that faults oversight of the foster placement. Together, the filings place new scrutiny on how the household was monitored and whether capacity warnings were heeded before the drowning.
An affidavit of probable cause says Watson told detectives she left a bathroom where a four-year-old, a two-year-old and Hill were bathing to go downstairs to retrieve food from a microwave. When she returned, the affidavit states, Hill was unresponsive. Watson reported trying CPR and called 911. A responding officer wrote that she was visibly upset and repeatedly said, “I don’t want to go to jail.” Medics pronounced Hill dead shortly after. The Harrowgate rowhouse sits on a narrow block just off Kensington Avenue, where sirens and El trains punctuate the day.
The Medical Examiner’s December determination — cause of death drowning; manner of death homicide — cleared the way for criminal charges in January, according to officials familiar with the investigation. Court records show Watson was arrested Jan. 14 and released on a $500,000 unsecured bond while awaiting a preliminary hearing. The District Attorney’s Office has not said whether it will seek a grand jury. In a civil lawsuit filed earlier, Sharee Collins alleges two child-welfare agencies approved a crowded placement and failed to address warnings that the foster home was “at its max” with young children. Agencies named in the suit have not commented in the criminal matter.
Public records and prior reporting indicate the home had multiple children under age four at the time of the drowning. Case managers documented concerns about capacity and supervision in the months before Hill’s death, according to those reports. The Foster Care Unit’s staffing and oversight practices have drawn criticism in other Philadelphia cases, including complaints that communication gaps can leave caregivers without timely checks. City officials have not announced policy changes tied to Hill’s case, and no personnel actions have been disclosed.
Third-degree murder in Pennsylvania covers killings done with malice without a specific intent to kill; it carries a potential decades-long prison term. A Municipal Court judge will decide at a preliminary hearing whether there is enough evidence to hold the case for trial in Common Pleas Court. Prosecutors could amend counts as the case develops, though no additional defendants are listed. Civil proceedings will continue on a separate track, with depositions and discovery expected later this year if the suit is not resolved.
Outside the Criminal Justice Center, A.J. Thomson, Collins’ attorney, said the family waited “too long” for charges and wants answers about supervision that day. “What food was that important that you would leave three kids that age in the tub by themselves,” Thomson said. At the Harrowgate address, a neighbor who declined to give her name said families on the block often bathe children before dinner. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said, holding a toddler’s hand. Watson did not respond to a request for comment from the courthouse hallway.
As of Tuesday, Watson remained free on bond with a preliminary hearing expected within weeks. The homicide ruling remains the most recent official finding. The next scheduled step is a hearing where prosecutors outline their evidence and a judge decides whether the case moves forward.
Author note: Last updated February 4, 2026.