‘This could have been avoidable’: Family files lawsuit after 8-year-old girl drowns at hotel pool

HOUSTON (KHOU) - More details have been released regarding the death of a little girl whose body was found inside a pipe at a hotel pool in Houston.

An 8-year-old girl identified as Aliyah Jaico died last Saturday after she was sucked into an unsecured part of the pool at a DoubleTree Hotel.

The girl’s family says they are devastated and preparing for her funeral on Thursday.

Aliyah’s family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

“We are seeking justice for Aliyah because this could have been avoidable,” the family’s attorney, Richard Nava, said.

Aliyah’s family is suing the company that owns and operates the DoubleTree property. They also plan on filing a temporary restraining order to get access to the facility.

“This hotel ran an establishment with many violations,” Nava said.

According to the lawsuit, the family had rented a room at the hotel to enjoy a day of swimming last Saturday when Aliyah went missing.

It alleges hotel management denied the family’s request to look at security video as they were frantically searched for the 8-year-old.

According to the lawsuit, a pipe malfunctioned and was sucking water in instead of pushing it out.

Nava said Aliyah may have been trying to save her younger sister who was also being sucked into the uncovered hole.

Aliyah’s sister was pulled from the pool by another family member, but Aliyah disappeared.

Houston police and Texas EquuSearch Search and Recovery say security footage showed Aliyah go underwater in the lazy river pool and never resurface.

Tim Miller with Texas EquuSearch Search and Recovery says the team drained the pool and then used cameras on 20-foot poles to inspect the pipes and found Aliyah’s body wedged inside.

“It was almost unbelievable,” Miller said.

Aliyah’s mother has since posted on social media photos of her daughter and a heartbreaking message: “Thank you my love for the eight years you gave me by your side.”

The Houston Fire Department was not able to recover Aliyah’s body until nearly 14 hours after she disappeared.