9-year-old Detroit cheerleader dies in drowning on team trip

Latise Douglas says her heart is bleeding.

"Life without her is going to be so hard because she was such a blessing. She was everything. She was everything to me," said the grieving mother.

She's trying to make sense that her 9-year-old daughter Adriana Douglas will not return home from a cheerleading competition she went to over the weekend in Illinois. She was a cheerleader with the Westside Cubs.

"The last thing she told me, she said 'Mommy I love you,' and I keep hearing her and all that I can do is think about my baby."

After performing in the competition on Saturday, Douglas says Adriana who made the trip with her father and brother wanted to go swimming at the hotel.

"They said she kept going under and playing and popping out."

Just before 6 p.m., police say they were called to this Doubletree hotel in Alsip, Illinois for an unresponsive person in the swimming pool.

Paramedics performed CPR and the child was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

"What happened was her swimsuit got caught into the suction and they couldn't pry her away from it at the hotel, so she drowned. She was so small."

Police say their investigation continues, but at this time there is no evidence of any malfunction with the hotel swimming pool.

They also say a 10-year-old boy drowned at the hotel swimming pool three years ago but that was ruled an accident.

Fox 2 reached out to officials at the Doubletree hotel and were told, "Currently there is an ongoing investigation of this incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all family and friends."

Douglas says as she waits for more answers, she also has to think about her 11-year-old son Jamari, who is devastated.

The family says they will start planning for a funeral as soon as they can, but they admit it will present a financial hardship. They hope people in the community can help them through this difficult time. If you'd like to help CLICK HERE.

"I just really feel bad and it's really hard," said Douglas, "But I appreciate the support of friends and family."

WEB UPDATE: Any cards and condolences can be sent in care of Latise and Jessie Douglas to Hope United Methodist Church, 26275 Northwestern Highway in Southfield, MI 48076.