Toddler Found Alive in Morgue After Drowning Incident
An 18-month-old boy, Vincent Lorenzo Fiordilino, was found alive in a morgue more than five hours after being pronounced dead following a pool drowning in Gilbert, Arizona, on 8 February. The toddler's parents now face a felony child abuse charge, according to police records.
Police reports and body camera footage reviewed by ABC15 Investigators reveal that two Gilbert police officers observed signs of life multiple times, but the child was still taken to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center's cold room, which serves as the morgue. One officer wrote in the report that the baby was pronounced dead 'in error' by Dr. Aryan Toosi, even after a tense exchange about a possible pulse.
Emergency Calls Reveal Panic
Distressing 911 recordings capture the moment Vincent was found drowning in his family's pool. The toddler's relatives made two emergency calls within seconds on Super Bowl Sunday. According to a police report, Vincent's parents, Alexus and Angelo Fiordilino, were smoking cannabis in the garage while the boy gained access to the pool. He was found floating face down at approximately 5:30pm.
Alexus, 29, pulled her son from the pool and began CPR while 911 was contacted. In one call, a family member said, 'I just found my nephew in the pool.' When asked if the boy was breathing, the caller responded, 'We're not sure.' In a second call, screams were heard as the operator struggled to assess the situation.
Declared Dead, Then Found Alive
Vincent was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, where Dr. Toosi declared him dead at 6:20pm. His body was moved to the morgue. However, about five and a half hours later, a medical examiner discovered Vincent was alive with a weak heartbeat. He was flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital for treatment, where an MRI showed severe brain damage.
Police documents indicate that Vincent had exhibited signs of life before the declaration. One officer heard a nurse say 'I have a pulse' before other staff attempted to revive him. The officer relayed this to Dr. Toosi, who reportedly said, 'arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.' Dr. Toosi then ordered life-saving measures halted.
Parents' Concerns Dismissed
As Alexus and Angelo said their goodbyes, both parents stated they believed Vincent was still breathing, based on his gasping. The attending officer also observed the boy's chest rising and falling. Medical staff attributed this to gas leaving the body. However, when staff moved Vincent's body later, a female officer heard 'another audible gasp.'
Miracle Recovery
Vincent's family noted on a GoFundMe page that his initial prognosis was bleak, with doctors saying his organs were failing. However, a follow-up MRI on 12 February showed no brain damage, only a small area of bruising that may cause minor balance issues. 'By the grace of God, the results showed no brain damage,' the page states. 'Despite this miracle, Vincent still faces a long and challenging recovery.'
Felony Child Abuse Charge
Both parents tested positive for THC after the incident, and officers detected a strong odor of marijuana from the garage. The Gilbert Police Department is recommending a single felony charge of child abuse to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
