La Quinta – Child Death, Homicide Investigation and Arrest
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By Inland Empire • Jul 1st, 2009 • Category: FeaturesOn Thursday, June 25, 2009, at about 10:15 pm, officers from the La Quinta Police Department were called to a home at the 44000 block of Vista Dunes Lane regarding a child not breathing. Officers arrived shortly after fire and emergency medical personnel. They found a three-year-old girl in the home, deceased, with first and second degree burns on her face, neck, chest, back and arms. The girl was identified as Delilah Urrutia. She turned three on May 14.
The girl’s mother was present and explained that her daughter had accidentally tipped a pot of extremely hot water on herself. The pot had been on the kitchen counter.
Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Central Homicide unit were called to assist La Quinta PD investigators. As a result of the investigation, it was found that the child’s mother neglected to summon help or seek any medical treatment for her daughter. Instead, she confined her to a room for misbehaving. It was later in the evening that the child’s mother discovered Urrutia had stopped breathing and she called 911.
An autopsy was performed on Monday, June 29. The autopsy revealed additional injuries to the child. It is believed these injuries, which appeared to have been received over a period of time, were caused by continuous physical abuse.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, the child’s mother, Yolanda Guadalupe Pena, 39, was arrested for California Penal Code 187(a) murder and 273ab, assault of a child resulting in death. She was booked at the Indio Jail with her bail set at $1,000,000.
This investigation is continuing. Investigators are asking anyone with additional information regarding this case to call Investigator Jason Corey, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Central Homicide Unit, 951-955-2777.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Indio Station – La Quinta Police Department
PRESS RELEASE
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Date/Time Written: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 / 11:30 pm
Type of Incident:
Child Death, Homicide Investigation and Arrest
Date/Time of Incident: Thursday, June 25, 2009 / 10:15 pm
Locations of Incident: 44000 block of Vista Dunes Lane, La Quinta.
Reporting Officer: Sgt. David Barton, Central Homicide Unit
File Number : LA 09 176 008
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