Yanira Valderrama was arrested for the September 2009 murder of her newborn baby boy. (Fullerton Police Department / April 8, 2010) |
FULLERTON, Calif. (KTLA) -- A young woman accused of drowning her newborn boy in a toilet has pleaded guilty to felony child abuse.
Under a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss murder charges against 21-year old Yanira Bernice Valderrama.
Prosecutors say Valderrama hid her pregnancy from her family and gave birth to the boy in the bathroom of her family's Fullerton home on Sept. 4, 2009.
On September 4, 2009, Valderrama's mother called paramedics after discovering the placenta, prosecutors said.
Valderrama was transported to a hospital where it was determined she had recently given birth, police said.
Investigators believe Valderrama had been trying to conceal the pregnancy from her parents and delivered the infant full term.
Valderrama allegedly gave birth in the bathroom and put the baby in the toilet when her mother tried to enter, according to prosecutors.
Fullerton Fire officials found the newborn's body in a trashcan.
The Orange County Coroner determined the baby's cause of death was "a blunt force injury to the head and asphyxia while submerged in water."
Valderrama is due back in court October 21st for sentencing.
She will likely serve five-years under the plea deal.
Under a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss murder charges against 21-year old Yanira Bernice Valderrama.
Prosecutors say Valderrama hid her pregnancy from her family and gave birth to the boy in the bathroom of her family's Fullerton home on Sept. 4, 2009.
On September 4, 2009, Valderrama's mother called paramedics after discovering the placenta, prosecutors said.
Valderrama was transported to a hospital where it was determined she had recently given birth, police said.
Investigators believe Valderrama had been trying to conceal the pregnancy from her parents and delivered the infant full term.
Valderrama allegedly gave birth in the bathroom and put the baby in the toilet when her mother tried to enter, according to prosecutors.
Fullerton Fire officials found the newborn's body in a trashcan.
The Orange County Coroner determined the baby's cause of death was "a blunt force injury to the head and asphyxia while submerged in water."
Valderrama is due back in court October 21st for sentencing.
She will likely serve five-years under the plea deal.
