Pomona woman accused of drowning her son appears in court
An arraignment hearing was postponed for the second time Tuesday for a Pomona woman accused of drowning her 5-year-old son before trying to take her own life.
According to prosecutors, Josie Stephanie Navarro, 23, drowned her son, Edgar Manuel Sanchez, in a bathtub on Oct. 20 at the Comfort Inn at 1421 S. Garey Ave. in Pomona before trying to take her own life by swallowing sleeping pills.
Navarro was in custody Tuesday in Pomona Superior Court. She had her long blond hair pulled back in a pony tail, and was crying during the three-minute hearing.
She was wearing a yellow jail-issued shirt, indicating she is under mental-health evaluation and separated from the jail's general population, said Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Oscar Butao.
Three of Navarro's family members who attended the hearing declined to comment to a reporter afterward.
The arraignment hearing - where a person accused of a crime enters a plea - was postponed because Navarro's defense attorney was not available, Commissioner Wade Olson said during the hearing. It was re-scheduled for Dec. 15.
Continue reading for a story on Navarro's initial arrest.
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Mother accused of drowning son in Pomona hotel bathtub
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) - Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Author: Lori Consalvo, Staff Writer
POMONA - A 23-year-old mother is suspected of drowning her son in a hotel bathtub Monday night before attempting to kill herself with sleeping pills, officials said.
Josie Navarro of Pomona was found conscious and responsive about 9:30 p.m. in a room at the Comfort Inn, 1421 S. Garey Ave. Police discovered her 5-year-old son, Edgar Manuel Sanchez, under water in the bathtub.
"This is a sickening event," Sgt. Mike Olivieri said. "It's hard to imagine a human could do this to their child."
Navarro was booked at Pomona City Jail after she was released from a hospital Tuesday morning. She was being held in lieu of $1million bail.
The hospital was not willing to release details about Navarro 's state of mind or health, Olivieri said.
Police were tipped off by a call from the hotel desk clerk who said a woman was attempting suicide in one of the rooms. Navarro had checked into the room with Edgar that day, according to a news release.
When they got to the room, officers saw Navarro being restrained on the floor by a man who has not yet been identified, Olivieri said.
Police on Tuesday were still trying to figure out what happened Monday night.
"The baby and suspect were there (in the hotel), and somehow the other guy showed up," Olivieri said.
Upon discovering the child in the bathtub, officers immediately performed CPR and continued life-saving efforts until paramedics took over, according to the news release. Edgar was pronounced dead at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.
Navarro was also taken to a hospital. In what police are calling a "poor attempt at suicide," she had consumed several sleeping pills. Olivieri said he did not know how many.
During an interview with police officers, Navarro said she wanted to die because of problems in her life, and she didn't want to leave her son behind, authorities said.
Navarro will be arraigned today in Pomona Superior Court on charges of murder and assault on a child causing death.
A fund has been set up by the Pomona Police Officers Association to help the family with funeral and burial expenses.
"Please join our officers and the entire organization in laying Edgar to rest in a manner worthy of an innocent child," it said in a news release.
Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Pomona Police Department, 490 W. Mission Blvd. Checks should be made out to "PPOA" with a notation on the bottom - "Edgar Sanchez fund."
For more information, contact Eddie Vazquez at (909) 620-2156. HOW TO HELP
Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Pomona Police Department, 490 W. Mission Blvd.
Checks should be made out to "PPOA" with a notation on the bottom - "Edgar Sanchez fund."
For more information, contact Eddie Vazquez at (909) 620-2156.
I hope that mother of that little boy gets life sentance for what she did to that little poor boy. he didn't deserive it at all. if she didn't want to leave him behind then she should of taking him to a cps office, and gave him to them. that mother makes me fucken sick. i realy hope they don't go easy on her.