Stockton stepmom arrested in death of girl

STOCKTON — Police have arrested a Stockton woman in connection with the child abuse death of her 4-year-old stepdaughter.

Stockton police reported that Zulma Chavez-Ventura was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of homicide and felony child abuse. She is being held at the San Joaquin County Jail without bail.

Police made the arrest after being notified that the victim, who was not identified, had died.

Authorities on Sunday responded to an area hospital after receiving reports of suspected child abuse, police said. Officers arrived to find out the girl had suffered severe injuries and had been rushed to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

Detectives took over the investigation and learned the incident had occurred at the family's home in the 8600 block of Rice Court in northeast Stockton, according to police.

Chavez-Ventura, 21, was taken into custody by police and two boys, ages 4 and 5, were taken into protective custody by San Joaquin County Child Protective Services, according to authorities.

The suspect, who police identified as the stepmother of the girl, is scheduled to be arraigned in San Joaquin County Superior Court on Thursday afternoon.

No more information was provided.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Police Department at (209) 937-8377, the Investigations Unit at (209) 937-8323 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 946-0600. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $10,000.

Cellphone users can text information to 274637 (CRIMES) by entering the keyword “TIPSPD” followed by their tip. Internet users can visit the Police Department’s Facebook page and click “Submit a Tip.”