21-Year-Old Employee Drowns in Pool at Demi Moore's Beverly Hills Home
A 21-year-old man drowned in the swimming pool of Hollywood star Demi Moore's Beverly Hills home on Sunday. The actress was not at home at the time of the incident. The Los Angeles Police Department identified the victim as Edenilson Steven Valle, a local resident.
Valle had been removed from the pool and was being treated by paramedics when police were dispatched about 5:20 a.m., Sgt. A. Bone told the Los Angeles Times.
"From what I understand, (he) was a staff member," Bone said.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said he was pronounced dead at the scene minutes after police arrived. Friends and family of Valle's told authorities that he had been missing for 10-15 minutes and did not know how to swim, said Lt. Fred Corral, a spokesman for the coroner's office.
Moore's publicist, Heidi Lopata, said the 52-year-old actress was in "total shock," according to Fox News.
"I was out of the country traveling to meet my daughters for a birthday celebration when I got the devastating news," the "Ghost" star noted in a statement. Moore noted that the drowning, which occurred at a party held by her assistant while she was away, was an "unthinkable tragedy."
"My heart goes out to this young man's family and friends," the actress wrote.
Police questioned five individuals present at the home at the time of the incident, officer Matthew Jones told CNN.
"Who threw the party, we do not know at this time," Jones said.
Moore, meanwhile, could be held liable for the drowning even though she was not at the premises, entertainment lawyer Julian Chan explained, according to Fox News. Even if they are not present, employers assume certain responsibilities for the acts of their employees, he noted.
"As the homeowner, she will be accused of failing to provide proper pool supervision," Los Angeles-based attorney Leo Terrell said, according to FOX411. "The lawsuit will attack Demi's failure to insure the safety of the guests from the danger of the pool."
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