Mother charged in death of daughter
PPD: Child had sustained major injuries
A 20-year-old Porterville woman was arrested in the suspicious death of her 5-monthold daughter, the Porterville Police Department reported.
At approximately 9 p.m. Monday, the PPD responded to Sierra View Medical Center regarding a report of an infant that arrived for treatment that was not breathing.
By the time officers arrived they were advised that the 5-monthold girl had been pronounced dead. It’s standard procedure for the hospital to call law enforcement when there is a suspicious death.
The cause of death was immediately identified as suspicious, as the child had sustained major injuries.
“Can’t go into details on the injuries at this time,” said Investigations Lt. Dominic Barteau, adding that an autopsy is being conducted. “It’s still pretty early in the investigation.”
PPD detectives were called out and assumed the investigation. This is the first homicide of 2018 in the City of Porterville.
A search warrant was served at the home of the child and family in the 300 block of South G Street in Porterville and evidence was collected.
The parents of the infant were transported to the police department and interviewed. As a result of the investigation, the child’s mother, Angelica Castro, was arrested Tuesday morning for the death of her daughter.
“Based on our investigation, our interview with her, the physical evidence as well as the evidence collected at the home all led us to believe that she was responsible,” Barteau said. “We interviewed the baby’s father and some extended family members that were living in the home, but they have all been released.” Barteau said the department had not had any prior history with Castro until Monday night.
She was booked into the custody of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of homicide and is being held without bail.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Detective Orlando Ortiz at 782-7400.