Police in California have arrested a 24-year-old woman whose 15-month-old son died this week after being beaten with a common frying pan.
Carmen Anita DeGregg is being held on suspicion of murder for her alleged role in the unidentified child’s killing.
A statement from the Santa Monica Police Department does not name DeGregg, but according to arrest records reviewed by Us Weekly, she was the sole person to be charged with murder on Tuesday, January 6 — the day of her arrest.
She was also charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of her arrest.
According to police, DeGregg was spotted wandering across the Santa Monica campus of the University of California Los Angeles just before noon on Tuesday, January 6, and she was stopped by UCLA police.
The campus cops took DeGregg into custody, claiming it was because she allegedly made alarming statements indicating she had left her injured baby inside her apartment nearby.
Police who travelled out the apartment found the baby girl suffering from “significant injuries” she sustained when her mom allegedly attacked her with the frying pan.
KABC, My News LA, and Fox 11 have also identified DeGregg and noted the injuries were caused by a frying pan. Us Weekly was unable to independently verify that detail.
“Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded and transported the infant to a local area hospital, where the child was later pronounced deceased,” according to the press release.
One neighbor told Fox 11 they had heard “screams” over the weekend but did not know if that was when the assault occurred.
“It’s pretty bad,” neighbor Fred Moynier told Fox 11, telling the news station that he saw first responders bringing the child outside on a gurney. He added they did chest compressions while trying to save the toddler.
“Why would a mother do that?” Moynier asked. Another neighbor, Sarah Coughlan, also wondered what kind of person could kill their own child.
“I just can’t understand why anybody would be in that state of mind to do something like that,” said Coughlan, speaking to the station. “It’s kind of scary. Very disturbing.”
Fox 11 reported that the child’s father was also questioned by police but faces no criminal charges. Neighbors told the station the man appeared extremely distraught and emotional while speaking with officers at the scene.
A Santa Monica Police Department spokesperson said Thursday, January 8, they could not provide any more information on the alleged crime, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The Santa Monica Police statement did confirm that the infant’s “cause and manner of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner” at a later date.
DeGregg is being held on $2 million bond and by press time, had not appeared before a judge. Her arraignment was scheduled for January 8.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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