On September 14, 2023, in Chicago, a man was taken into custody after he allegedly attempted to drown his son, referring to the act as a “sacrifice for Jehovah.”
The incident came to authorities’ attention when a Lyft driver reported hearing alarming statements from the passenger, identified as Jeremiah Campbell, during their ride. The driver called 911 after leaving Campbell and his two-year-old son at an apartment.
According to a police report, Campbell spoke about his intentions to drown his son in reference to a “sacrifice to Jehovah” among other conspiracy theories. Around the same time, a call was made to emergency services from the same address, stating that a two-year-old boy had drowned.
Upon their arrival, Chicago police officers received no response from inside the apartment. Through a window, officers observed a man, believed to be Campbell, near a bathtub. Responding to the situation, officers entered the apartment and found Campbell with the child. The boy was observed to be expelling water and was rushed to a nearby hospital. His current condition has not been made public.
A witness described the scene: “They brought the child out and he was wet and coughing.”
After the event, Campbell was charged with attempted murder, child endangerment, and violating a protective order. The Cook County State Attorney’s Office verified these charges. The protective order reportedly had restricted Campbell from being near the boy. After a medical assessment, Campbell remains in Cook County Jail without the possibility of bail. He has a scheduled court appearance on September 21. A statement from Lyft recognized the driver’s actions, with a company representative noting, “We recognize the alertness of the Lyft driver… Their timely report contributed to preventing potential harm to the child.”
