A child found unresponsive in a vehicle in East Los Angeles died at a hospital and her mother was arrested for suspicion of murder, authorities said Saturday.
Deputies were summoned at 11:09 p.m. Thursday to investigate a report of a child assaulted in the 4800 block of Civic Center Way, a couple of blocks south of the Pomona (60) Freeway, and found the girl unresponsive, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Paramedics rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A woman later determined to be the girl’s mother was detained at the scene and subsequently arrested for suspicion of murder, sheriff’s officials said.
“The initial autopsy from the Department of Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as homicide,” sheriff’s officials said in a press statement.
ABC7 reported the girl had been identified as 4-year-old Mia Gonzales, that the Medical Examiner determined her cause of death was combined effects of strangulation and sharp force.
An online Medical Examiner’s report revealed the sharp force injury involved the girl’s wrist.
Channel 7 further reported that the mother had been identified as 38-year-old Maria Avalos.
The sheriff’s department would not immediately confirm the names, but the department’s inmate records indicate Avalos was being held without bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.
The case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for review on Tuesday, sheriff’s officials said.