A woman in California has been charged with murdering her own daughter after she allegedly sank into a depression over her non-legal immigration status, according to reports.
The horrifying incident unfolded on Friday afternoon in Van Nuys.
Police and emergency medical responders arrived at an apartment building just after 5:30 p.m. where they found a 7-year-old girl unresponsive in a bathtub inside a residence.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s mother, 37-year-old Graciela Castellanos, was arrested and booked into jail on $2 million bail.
Graciela Castellanos, 37, has been charged with murder after she allegedly drowned her 7-year-old daughter in a bathtub in California
— Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) April 17, 2025
Castellanos fiancé says she was emotionally unstable and in a deep depression about not being legal resident of the US
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On Tuesday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that Castellanos has been charged with felony murder and another felony for assault on a child under 8 years old causing death.
“The alleged facts of this case — where a mother is accused of intentionally taking the life of her young child — are profoundly tragic and deeply unsettling,” District Attorney Hochman said in a press release.
“Our sympathy goes out to the family and loved ones of this young girl, whose life was cut short far too soon.”
Castellanos’ fiancé, who was set to wed her in about two months and adopt the child, told local media [in Spanish] that the suspected killer suffers from extreme mental and emotional issues that cause her to scream uncontrollably and isolate herself until she calms down.
“The fiancé told Eyewitness News he believes what triggered Castellanos to allegedly drown her daughter was a deep depression after she found out she might not become a legal resident. He added that he thinks she was the sweetest person in the world and never harmed her daughter — allegedly, until now,” KABC reports.
Castellanos’ country of origin and immigration status remain unclear at this time.
An investigation is ongoing.