State report reveals prior drug allegation involving mother before 2 young sisters drowned
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Newly released state records reveal Child Protective Services investigated a drug allegation involving the mother of two young sisters nearly two years before the girls drowned in their family's backyard pool with cocaine in their systems.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) released its child fatality reports Wednesday for 2-year-old Kelsey Kite and 3-year-old Kinsley Kite, who died in February after they were found in the pool at their grandparent's home on Creek Edge Court in west Harris County.
Their mother, Laura Nicholson, remains in jail charged with two counts of injury to a child for her daughters' deaths.
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The reports provide new details about the family's history with CPS, including a February 2024 investigation triggered by an allegation that the girls' mother posted a Snapchat showing herself using cocaine while holding one of her children. The report says she was also believed to have been breastfeeding at the time.
DFPS ultimately did not confirm the allegation against the mother. According to the report, she denied using drugs and tested negative for all substances. Investigators saw the children and reported that they appeared healthy and clean, and medical personnel and family members contacted by the agency reported no concerns. The children's father refused a drug test but denied using or selling drugs.
DFPS classified the family's final risk level as "moderate," but the report states that no services or referrals were provided following the investigation.
In December 2025, DFPS investigated the family again after the girls' maternal uncle, who lived in the home, was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Their mother also reported violence in the home involving her brother and father.
DFPS did not confirm neglectful supervision and could not determine whether the uncle sexually abused the children. The case closed with the family's risk level again classified as "moderate" and the mother agreeing to parenting and evaluation services.
About two months later, Kelsey and Kinsley, described in an online obituary as "beacons of joy" with "laughter that echoed," were dead.
According to the reports, the girls' grandmother had gone to the grocery store on the morning of Feb. 11. DFPS determined that their mother was awake with the children when the grandmother left, made them breakfast, and turned on a movie before falling asleep in the living room with them.
Investigators determined the girls were able to get out through a back door because a security latch was not secured. Their grandmother found the door open when she returned home and then discovered both children in the pool. The girls were rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The fatality report says the mother knew the children were able to get out the door and into the backyard where the pool was located, but DFPS found that she did not take safety measures to prevent them from doing so.
According to DFPS, friends and relatives expressed concerns that the mother was using cocaine, and she admitted to using cocaine once.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined the girls' primary cause of death was "drowning and acute cocaine toxicity."
In May, the Harris County Sheriff's Office announced that the girls' mother, 23-year-old Nicholson, had been charged with two counts of injury to a child. Nicholson was arrested in Fort Myers, Florida, by a task force. Officials there said she was located in a mental health rehab where they believed she was getting treatment.
Court records obtained by ABC13 at the time did not explain how investigators believe cocaine entered the girls' systems.
The newly released DFPS reports do not explain how the children were exposed to cocaine either.
RELATED: 2 toddlers confirmed dead at hospital after drowning in Katy-area home pool, HCSO says
