News 13 has learned the city of Fruitland Park had issued a code-enforcement violation for an open septic tank at a home one day before a 2-year-old girl fell inside the tank and died.
A city spokesman said code enforcement learned about the tank, in the backyard of a home on Jewell Street, on Tuesday.
The next morning, 2-year-old Marissa Daniels fell into the tank in the backyard and was killed.
According to new records from Fruitland Park police, the lid of the tank had been broken for several months.
"For a 2-year-old girl to pass away the way she did, it was heartbreaking," said Alan Akins, a neighbor.
Police said the toddler's parents were in the process of moving out of the home with help from friends, while Marissa and other children played in the backyard.
A family member eventually noticed Marissa was missing and called police.
A police dog alerted them to open the septic tank, where officers found the girl dead.