Vermont State Police said they have completed their investigation into the death of a 3-year-old boy who drowned last July after falling into a water storage tank at Smugglers’ Notch Resort and that no criminal charges will be filed as a result of the probe.
Tate Holtzman of Cambridge died at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington following the incident, which took place on July 6, 2023.
In a press release issued Tuesday morning, state police said they had presented their investigative findings to the Lamoille County State’s Attorney’s Office. “Prosecutors determined that no criminal charges would be filed as a result of Tate’s death,” police wrote in the release.
According to the investigation, the boy was enrolled in a day care program through the resort and “was walking with adult supervision near the outdoor splash pad when he stepped on an unsecured cover to an underground cistern,” police said in the release. “The cover gave way, and Tate fell into the water below.”
An investigation by the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration initially led to a $31,253 fine in October against Smugglers’ North for six violations regarding the resort’s management of the water tank, according to a report last week by the Community News Service. The resort later negotiated that fine down to $21,850, CNS reported.
Tate’s parents, Jennifer and Zachary Holtzman of Cambridge, issued a statement that was included in the state police press release regarding its investigation.
The boy’s father, Zachary Holtzman, “was actually an employee of Smugglers’ Notch leading up to and at the time of the incident,” the parents’ statement read, adding, “We are both deeply proud to be a part of this incredibly supportive community.
“As parents of this precious boy, we are beyond devastated by his loss, and by the fact that this tragedy occurred at what is our family’s favorite ski resort. This incident has impacted our lives in every possible way, wreaking havoc on our family, careers, and trust in this world. We are grateful for the continued love and support we have received while we navigate this nightmare.”
