HOUSTON -- The parents of two boys who drowned in a southwest Houston apartment pool lost temporary custody of their 1-year-old daughter in a hearing held Tuesday, Local 2 reported.

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Parents Fight To Keep Daughter Officials Investigate Pool Drownings

Six-year-old McClain Rockson drowned in the pool in the 11000 block of Kinghurst near South Wilcrest Drive at about 1:20 p.m. Friday. His brother Richard, 8, died Sunday at Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital, where he was taken after being pulled from the pool.

Child Protective Services placed the boys' 1-year-old sister in foster care while the case is investigated.

Mary Rockson and her husband, Joseph, went to family court for the hearing.

"I don't know what to say. I can't imagine that this has happened to my family," Joseph Rockson said.

He was in Ghana when he received word that his sons had drowned.

"We have loved these children and my house is actually broken. Traditionally, our values are that your baby boys are your home and my house is really broken right now," Joseph Rockson said.

He said he is also angry that people are accusing his wife of neglecting their sons.

Mary Rockson said her sons stepped out of the house while she put her daughter to sleep in an upstairs bedroom.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the boys' mother left them unattended at the steps of the swimming pool, even though they could not swim.

CPS was awarded temporary custody of the daughter, who might be placed with a family friend once the woman's background is checked.

"At a time like this, children do need their family, but we also have to think about the child and whether or not she will be safe," said Estella Olquin of Child Protective Services.

"I'm disappointed, but there's nothing I can do. The court -- they have to go through the court processes," Joseph Rockson said.

CPS officials said the drowning investigation could take up to 30 days.

The next custody date is scheduled for June 9.

Four children, including the two brothers, have died from drownings in swimming pools since Friday in the Houston area.

Four-year-old Bria Harvey died at a hospital Sunday after being pulled from the pool of an apartment complex. The case is being investigated by Houston police.

Elijah Salter, 6, died Saturday night after he was pulled from a motel pool. His death is being investigated by the Harris County Sheriff's Department.

Earlier this year, two children drowned in three days in the Houston area, both in backyard swimming pools in separate incidents.

Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related deaths for children ages 1 to 14, taking more than 900 children's lives each year, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that about 300 children younger than 5 drown in family pools nationwide each year.

Previous Stories:

May 30, 2005: CPS Takes Custody Of Fatal Drowning Victim's Sibling
May 30, 2005: Girl, 4, Drowns In Apartment Complex's Pool
May 27, 2005: Boy, 6, Drowns; Brother, 7, Nearly Drowns In Apartment Pool