A California woman has been charged with the murder of her newborn baby after allegedly giving birth in a homeless encampment.
Marisol Flores, 30, also faces a charge of assault on a child causing death, the Ventura County District Attorney said in a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Prosecutors say Flores is believed to have given birth in a homeless camp along West Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Witnesses reportedly saw Flores pregnant the day before. When they saw her again on Sunday, prosecutors said she was no longer pregnant and the newborn was not with her.
Authorities allege Flores killed the infant shortly after giving birth. Prosecutors said the baby’s body was found in the encampment and showed visible signs of blunt force trauma.
Officers responded after a 911 call reporting a birth and complications, according to an Oxnard Police Department press release.
Fire and EMS personnel arrived shortly after 11 a.m. and attempted to render aid to the infant, but the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.
Flores was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, police said.
The police department said emergency responders noticed a suspicious injury on the infant and shared their observations with officers at the scene.
Investigators with the department’s Family Protection and Major Crimes units were assigned to the case and, police said, developed additional information that led them to believe Flores was responsible for the infant’s death.
Flores was taken into custody on Feb. 8.
She is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 13 and is being held on $500,000 bail.
