KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. -- The twin brother of a nearly 2-year-old girl who drowned after both children were found in a swimming pool at a West Knox County home has died, according to East Tennessee Children's Hospital.
The boy had been in critical condition at the hospital since Friday, when he and his sister were staying with a babysitter at 8836 Fox Lonas Road, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
The babysitter said that after another child arrived at the home about 10 a.m., she began looking around for the twins and found them in the deep end of the pool, according to KCSO.
An ambulance rushed the twins to the children's hospital, where the girl died and her brother was put on life support. He died on Sunday, according to hospital spokesman Seth Linkous.
'Eli was definitely her follower'
Two friends of the family, Erin Fielden and Jennifer Stewart, started a GoFundMe campaign late Friday to raise money for funeral expenses and medical bills. By Sunday afternoon, the fundraiser had drawn more than $10,000 in donations.
"Everything leads to financial expenses, and we just hope we can ease that burden and rally together as a community to maybe take that part out of it," said Stewart, who described herself as a close friend of the twins' mother.
Stewart said the mother gave her permission to speak to the media and to identify the twins by their first names — Elyssa and Elijah.
"Elyssa was definitely the boss, and Eli was definitely her follower," Stewart said, adding that the family also has two older children.
The family asks for prayers and appreciates the outpouring of love and support from the community, Stewart said.
Om Baby
Records show that as of May 2017, the home on Fox Lonas Road was operating as a day care center called Om Baby, registered to Jen Salley of Knoxville. Salley does not own the home, according to property records.
A Care.com listing for Om Baby said Salley began doing day care in 2010 and is certified in CPR, first aid and swim instruction. The listing advertised summer swimming classes for $150; reviews had been posted as recent as June 3.
The listing has since been taken down.
According to Tennessee Department of Human Services spokesman Sky Arnold, Om Baby was not a licensed child care facility, and Salley did not have a child care license. That means Salley was not allowed to care for more than four unrelated children for more than three hours at a time.
Om Baby's Care.com profile advertised space for up to six children — three infants and three toddlers.
Arnold said at the time of the drowning, Salley was in compliance with the rules in that she did not have more than four children at the home.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Children's Services are investigating. The sheriff's office has not yet confirmed the identities of the twins or said whether criminal charges may be filed in the case. More details will be released as the investigation continues.
