Law enforcement witnesses in the murder trial of Rachael Marie
Menchaca helped create a timeline of events Thursday surrounding
the death of her 9-month-old daughter.
Hollister – Law enforcement witnesses in the murder trial of Rachael Marie Menchaca helped create a timeline of events Thursday surrounding the death of her 9-month-old daughter.
Menchaca, 28, is standing trial on charges of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, all felonies, in connection with the death of her daughter, Isabella Menchaca, on Sept. 11, 2006. She faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.
San Benito County Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagner will call several medical experts to testify today. Both attorneys in the case have stated Isabella Menchaca ingested methadone, a powerful narcotic used in the treatment of addiction.
Hollister Police Department officers testified about an interview conducted with Menchaca within seven hours of her 911 call to report her daughter’s health problems.
Police officer Rudy Rodriguez – who investigated Isabella Menchaca’s death as a police detective – testified he interviewed the mother at 9:24am Sept. 11, 2006 to create a timeline of events. Rodriguez testified Menchaca told him during the interview that she noticed her daughter was having breathing problems at about 4pm or 5pm Sept. 10, 2006.
Rodriguez testified Menchaca told him she called 911 at about 2am Sept. 11, 2006, after she attempted to revive her daughter. Officers testified they responded to Menchaca’s apartment after a 911 call at 3:11am that morning.
“She didn’t think things were serious enough to call until she did,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez testified Menchaca told him during the interview that it was an accident, a mistake and that she had used her best judgment. Rodriguez also testified that Menchaca never said she killed her daughter during the interview.
Hollister Police Sgt. James Weathers testified that Rachael Menchaca told him she had taken a CPR class at Raging Waters and demonstrated how she attempted to revive Isabella Menchaca. Weathers said it was not the correct CPR for an infant.
Menchaca’s attorney, Greg LaForge, asked Weathers what his demeanor was heading into the interview of his client on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2006.
“I was moderately angry,” Weathers said.
Weathers said he was upset and yelled at Menchaca.
