Timothy Alan Koets The death of Samuel was one of many instances in which the former professor left the autistic child unsupervised before he went to work. On the day of his death, Timothy said he left Samuel on their backyard deck and woke up the child's mother Michelle Koets to let her know before leaving for work. Michelle, however, fell back asleep from exhaustion as she worked the night shift as a registered nurse the day before her son's death. It was Samuel's 13-year-old sister who found him in the pool chest-deep and sent a text to her father letting him know. She then called for help in the house, but Michelle did not hear.