In East Los Angeles: Mother Was Arrested In Deaths Of 3 Children

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday that a mother was arrested for murder in the deaths of her three little children, including a newborn infant, in East Los Angeles.

Mia Camila Rodriguez, 4, and her brothers Mason Mateo Rodriguez, 3, and Milan Mateas Rodriguez, one-month-old, were recognized by the coroner’s office. Their autopsies are still being completed.

Sandra Chico, their mother, was being detained on $2 million bonds and was set to appear in a Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday, according to a Sheriff’s Department statement.

According to the statement, the arrest was made based on the preliminary investigation of the detectives, and that no more information was provided.

Chico’s lawyer was not immediately available to speak on her behalf. As of Tuesday morning, the case had not been brought to the district attorney’s office.

According to Lt. Chuck Calderaro, the youngsters were discovered in a bedroom in their house at 12:45 p.m. Monday after a family member phoned for assistance. They weren’t breathing and attempts to resuscitate them failed.

Flowers were laid in front of the house by neighbors to memorialize the children. Chico’s uncle, Arturo Cerezo, arrived just as he was being arrested.

He told KNBC, “She will do everything for those kids.” “That’s why it’s so difficult to grasp. “How did that happen?”

There was no clear cause of death or physical evidence of trauma, according to authorities.

“We still don’t know what caused it or why it happened. Rosalba Flores Castillo, the children’s grandmother, told KTLA in Spanish that “she wasn’t right.”

Sheriff Alex Villanueva stated, “There was no forewarning of any kind.” “There have been no recurrent calls for help, and there have been no complaints of child abuse. This was a series of unexpected tragedies.”

Victor Ohm, a neighbor, told FOX 11 that he had previously seen the kids playing in the yard when he went to purchase groceries.

Ohm told the TV station, “It’s heartbreaking.” “They were happy kids,” says the narrator.