A Colorado Springs man charged with negligence and child abuse resulting in death after a 6-year-old boy drowned at Prospect Lake in Memorial Park two years ago has died before sentencing, court records show.

Joseph Camacho, 55, was arrested Sept. 30, 2023, when a woman who had been windsurfing at the park called 911 after noticing a young boy “floating face down” in the lake.

Police said in the arresting documents that the boy was related to Camacho, but did not specify their relationship.

Camacho reportedly told police that he had taken the child to McDonald’s for lunch and stopped by a liquor store before going to the park. He told the investigator that he and the boy ate lunch inside the truck together, but he had lost track of the child when he used a portable toilet for 20-25 minutes. He said he was searching for the boy when he saw the ambulance.

The investigating officer noted in the affidavit that Camacho appeared to have extremely bloodshot eyes during the interview and Camacho said he had “one beer” in the hospital parking lot.

Camacho was set for sentencing Wednesday, but a Nov. 10 court filing indicated that he died between accepting a plea agreement with the prosecution and being sentenced.

Court records show that Camacho entered into the agreement in December 2024 and pleaded guilty to a felony charge of negligence causing death. He likely faced up to eight years in prison had he been sentenced.

The Gazette reached out to the El Paso County Coroner’s Office regarding Camacho’s cause of death, but did not receive an immediate response. It is unclear when exactly Camacho died.