Mother Arrested After Her Infant Daughter Found Dead

January 8, 2004

"Mother Arrested After Her Infant Daughter Found Dead"
 

Los Angeles: On January 7, 2004, at about 9:30 a.m., Rampart Area Patrol Officers responded to the 200 block of South Lake Street to meet the Fire Department Paramedics regarding a death investigation. Upon arrival, the officers learned that an eight-month-old baby girl under the care of her mother, Ana Mata, 28 years old, had died under suspicious circumstances.
Detectives from the Abused Child Unit (Juvenile Division) responded to the scene to assume responsibility for the investigation, with assistance from Rampart Area Detectives. The investigation revealed that the child was the victim of severe neglect and had been grossly under nourished. The child had not been provided with other essential infant care.
A determination of the exact cause of death is pending an investigation being conducted by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Ana Mata was arrested for the murder of her daughter.
Anyone with information regarding this murder is asked to contact Juvenile Division Detectives, at 213-485-2801. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detectives Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855)
This news advisory was prepared by Public Information Officer April Harding, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.