An attorney representing the family of an 8-year-old girl who tragically died at a hotel in Houston, Texas, has revealed harrowing new details about the incident. The girl, Aliyah Lynette Jaico, was swimming in a lazy river at the Doubletree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow on March 23 when she was suddenly pulled into an unsecured open gap in the swimming pool flow system.
The family's attorney, Richard Nava, shared that the gap measured between 12 and 16 inches wide. Aliyah disappeared, leading to a frantic search by her family. Police and rescuers eventually found her body wedged in the pipes of the malfunctioning pool equipment after a 12-hour effort to access it.
Aliyah's family had booked a room at the hotel for the day to enjoy its pool and lazy river since they did not have access to a pool where they lived. The family did not intend to stay overnight but only paid for a room to use the swimming facilities.
Daniela Jaico, Aliyah's mother, is struggling to cope with the loss of her daughter. The family held Aliyah's funeral recently, where Daniela expressed her deep sorrow and love for her daughter.
A lawsuit has been filed seeking wrongful death damages of $1 million against Unique Crowne Hospitality LLC and Hilton Worldwide Holdings INC., the operators of the hotel. The damages could exceed $1 million, according to Nava.
Hilton has distanced itself from the incident, stating that it does not own or manage the hotel's day-to-day operations. This response has caused frustration for Daniela and Nava, who believe Hilton should take responsibility for safety issues at the property.
Nava, who lives near the hotel, has raised concerns about safety standards at the hotel, previously known as the Grand Tuscany Hotel. The family is seeking justice for Aliyah's tragic death and holding all responsible parties accountable.
