Introduction to the Incident
A 7-year-old girl whose body was found in a bathtub at her Van Nuys apartment died of suffocation due to her neck being compressed and due to drowning, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The department identified the victim as Rebecca Castellanos.
Her mother, 37-year-old Graciela Xiomara Castellanos, was arrested Friday, April 11, on suspicion of murder, not long after death, authorities said.
Details of the Investigation
Detectives had not revealed a motive for the killing that happened in the 6800 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard.
A neighbor told KTLA that a man who also lives at the apartment found the girl when he came home and screamed for help. A LAPD spokesman didn’t know his relationship to the suspect or the victim.
Officers went to the apartment at 5:40 p.m. and saw the girl unresponsive in the bathtub and arrested the mother without incident.
Status of the Suspect
As of Monday, Graciela Castellanos was being held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood in lieu of $2 million bail. She doesn’t have any prior criminal convictions in Los Angeles County, according to court records.
Related Incidents
Other recent incidents of violence and crime include:
- Fire set at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home is the latest in a string of political violence
- Former Colorado deputy sentenced to 3 years in prison for killing man who called for help
- El Salvador President Bukele says he won’t be releasing a Maryland man back to the US
- Man arrested, accused of making false bomb threats to the Coachella festival
- 7-year-old girl found dead in bathtub in Van Nuys; mother arrested
Conclusion
The death of 7-year-old Rebecca Castellanos is a tragic incident that has led to the arrest of her mother, Graciela Xiomara Castellanos, on suspicion of murder. The investigation is ongoing, and the motive behind the killing has not been revealed. The community is left to grapple with the consequences of such a heinous crime.
FAQs
- What was the cause of death of the 7-year-old girl?
The cause of death was suffocation due to her neck being compressed and due to drowning. - Who was arrested in connection with the murder?
The girl’s mother, 37-year-old Graciela Xiomara Castellanos, was arrested on suspicion of murder. - What is the current status of the suspect?
As of Monday, Graciela Castellanos was being held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood in lieu of $2 million bail. - Are there any other similar incidents recently?
Yes, there have been other incidents of violence and crime, including a fire set at a governor’s home, a former deputy sentenced for killing a man, and a man arrested for making false bomb threats.
