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America's Got Talent Contestant Charged With Murder in Nephew's Drowning

Deshundre Vinson, 22, faces first-degree murder and child abuse charges after his 4-year-old nephew drowned at a Chattanooga pool.

2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 5, 2026, 6:27 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Sep 5, 2026, 5:06 p.m. ETUpdated Sep 9, 2026, 2:22 a.m. ET
Deshundre Vinson, 22, has been with first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse in connection with the August 16 drowning death of his 4-year-old nephew, according to reports from Daily Mail, TMZ, and Us Weekly. The charges were announced on September 5, 2026, as reported by TMZ. The case is at the charging stage and has not been resolved; no trial has been held and no verdict has been reached. Prosecutors allege that Vinson, who was babysitting, allowed the child and his 6-year-old brother to walk to an apartment complex pool without adult supervision. Reports differ on details: Us Weekly says the boys walked two-tenths of a mile on their own despite signs warning against children under 14 using the pool unsupervised, while TMZ reports the boy drowned after being submerged for about nine minutes. Daily Mail reports Vinson was not present during the drowning. The accounts conflict, and no single version has been confirmed. Vinson, known for appearing on America's Got Talent, has been but not yet tried. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The matter remains undecided.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 5, 2026, 6:27 p.m. ETFirst report

    America's Got Talent Contestant Charged in Nephew's Drowning

    Deshundre Vinson, 22, a former contestant on America's Got Talent, has been charged in connection with the drowning death of his nephew, according to reports from TMZ and the Daily Mail. The charges were reported on September 5, 2026. Vinson has not been tried, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    Vinson faces charges of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated child abuse, as reported by the Daily Mail. The government alleges that Vinson, who was babysitting his nephew and other children, allowed the two brothers to walk to the pool without adult supervision, and that the boy drowned after being submerged for about nine minutes, according to TMZ. The Daily Mail reported a similar account, stating that Vinson allowed the child and his six-year-old brother to walk to the pool without adult supervision and was not present during the drowning.

    The specific details of the allegations have not been tested in court, and Vinson remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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Revision history

  1. Version 39 Sept 2026, 06:22current

    Updated to reflect the latest reporting on the charges and allegations.

  2. Version 26 Sept 2026, 09:02

    Added explicit statement that the case is at the charging stage and unresolved, and that the matter remains undecided.

  3. Version 15 Sept 2026, 22:22

    First published.

  4. Version 15 Sept 2026, 22:27current

    First published.

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