Palm Harbor, Fla. (WFLA) – The family of 3-year-old Kylie Larry, a boy with autism who drowned in a holding pond behind a Palm Harbor apartment in April, is speaking publicly for the first time and taking legal action.
At a press conference held Thursday, Kylie’s parents, Marcus Larry and Jasmine Torrence, stood alongside their lawyers and ASL interpreters, to announce their plans to file an illegal death lawsuit against the apartment complex in the village of Lansbrook, where the incident occurred.
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“I don’t know if anyone can clearly see the struggle and pain we face through this loss of my son,” said Marcus Larry, speaking through ASL’s interpreter Samuels.
The lawsuit argues that the retention pond behind the family’s East Lake Road home is not safe as it does not violate state and local safety codes, according to family lawyers.
“We will take this apartment complex and take responsibility for Kylie’s death,” said Pedro Echalte, a lawyer at Haggard Law Firm. “In doing so, we will send a message to other apartment complexes and property owners that we need to manage safety regulations.”
Echalte said the pond was above the maximum allowed slope set by the water management district and should be fenced.
“If these slope requirements are exceeded, the regulations require it to be a fence,” he said.
Families hope that the lawsuit will promote stronger enforcement of retention pond safety standards, especially in residential communities where children may be at risk.
News Channel 8 on your side reached out to Bell Partners, who manages the apartment. This manages Kelly Cronenberg’s legal representatives for more comment than the story’s air date. At the time, no response was received.
Since then, Sophia Turner-Smith, chief marketing officer at Kelley Kronenberg, responded with a brief statement.
“We have not commented on the pending lawsuit.”
Despite the heartbreak, Kylie’s parents say they remain strong for their son and other families who may be able to escape similar pain.
“Autism doesn’t come with a manual,” Marcus Larry said. “But it comes with a strong family and never give up.”
