8-year-old girl ‘violently sucked’ into NW Houston hotel pool’s unsecured gap, lawsuit reads

An 8-year-old girl who went missing over the weekend was discovered lodged in the pipes of malfunctioning pool equipment at a northwest Houston hotel, according to a lawsuit filed by her mother. The family identified the girl as Aliyah Lynette Jaico, who was found in the swimming pool at the DoubleTree by Hilton on U.S. 290.

Attorneys representing Aliyah’s mother announced plans for a news conference to discuss their lawsuit against Hilton, the parent company of DoubleTree, and Unique Crowne Hospitality, the local operator of the hotel. They are seeking damages of at least $1 million on behalf of Aliyah’s mother.

The ownership group did not comment on the lawsuit, but confirmed that the pool had been temporarily closed. A Hilton spokesperson expressed condolences to the family and stated that the property is independently owned and operated by a third party, emphasizing that Hilton does not manage its day-to-day operations or employ its staff.

According to the lawsuit, Aliyah disappeared while her mother was at the DoubleTree to enjoy a day of swimming. After searching for about an hour, her mother reported her missing to the police.

Texas EquuSearch, called in to assist, utilized specialized equipment to inspect the pipes after security footage showed Aliyah entering the water but not resurfacing. After draining the pool, it took approximately 13 hours for the Houston Fire Department and the team to recover her body.

The lawsuit alleges that Aliyah was “violently sucked into a 12- to 16-inch unsecured open gap in the swimming pool flow system.” Inspection of the pool revealed malfunctioning piping, which was supposed to expel water but instead was drawing it in.

Furthermore, a report from the Houston Health Department highlighted multiple violations found during Monday’s inspection, including issues with drain documentation and the presence of unexplained channel drains in the pool walls.