Second toddler drowns in Columbus retention pond that met regulations

Two-year-old Beeny Mbo was found dead at 3:45 p.m. Sunday in a retention pond near Polaris Place Apartments in north Columbus, about six hours after he was reported missing. The search used police units, K-9 units, a helicopter and a dive team. Community members including Cesia Young also searched. Columbus Police and the Franklin County Coroner confirmed no foul play. The CPD homicide bureau is leading the death investigation, and CPD said charges are unlikely. Within 24 hours, code enforcement confirmed the pond met 2024 city rules requiring warning signs, buoys and tenant education at multi-unit housing. The rules followed more than a dozen child deaths at retention ponds since 2013. Polaris Place already had signs and buoys before that law. The city recommended more signage at a smaller nearby pond. Anthony Celebrezze, deputy director of Columbus Building and Zoning Services, said a fence can become a barrier to saving a drowning child and large pond size makes fencing an uncertain fix. City officials cite installation and maintenance costs. Celebrezze said council will likely want a review of whether more can be added with the Department of Health and code enforcement, and that the challenge is common-sense rules without overregulating. The death follows another toddler drowning at a Columbus apartment-complex pond in July and has renewed calls for complete fencing.