Hollister
– The Hollister mother arrested in the death of her infant child
this week held back tears as she begged a judge for permission to
attend her 9-month-old daughter’s funeral during an arraignment
hearing Wednesday.
Hollister – The Hollister mother arrested in the death of her infant child this week held back tears as she begged a judge for permission to attend her 9-month-old daughter’s funeral during an arraignment hearing Wednesday.
San Benito County Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders denied the request. Rachael Marie Menchaca, 27, appeared in court for the first time Wednesday since her arrest this week. Menchaca was arrested by Hollister police Monday after her daughter died, possibly from eating a dangerous narcotic pill while Menchaca was high on methamphetamine, according to police.
Sanders denied her request to attend the funeral.
“I’m concerned about the seriousness of the charges against you,” Sanders told Menchaca when she asked why her request was being denied.
San Benito County District Attorney John Sarsfield charged Menchaca with felony involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse during the arraignment hearing.
Sanders read the charges to Menchaca during the arraignment. Dressed in black and white jail garb, she openly cried and shook her head. Menchaca appeared to face the criminal charges shortly after a closed-door custody hearing Wednesday afternoon at the San Benito County Courthouse.
Local attorney Harry Damkar, making an appearance for Public Defender Greg LaForge, entered not guilty pleas to all charges on Menchaca’s behalf.
Sanders set her bail at $100,000 and scheduled a setting date for a preliminary hearing in the case for Sept. 19.
Menchaca’s relatives and family members attended the hearing, but declined to comment on the charges or the infant’s death.
A friend of the family, who said he has known Menchaca for several years, declined to give his name, but told the Free Lance that she was a good mother.
“I’ve never seen anything that would make me think she wasn’t a good mother. Not letting her go to the funeral, that’s harsh,” he said outside the courthouse after the hearing. “She took care of her kids. I’ve never seen her do drugs; I’ve never even seen her drink.”
He said he thought the charges, which could land Menchaca in prison for up to 10 years, were excessive.
“She’s already going to be in prison the rest of her life mentally,” he said. “(The charges) are overboard. Maybe she deserves some punishment, but not life in prison.”
He called the death “tragic.”
Damkar declined to comment on the case, citing attorney-client privilege and the fact that he had not been assigned to represent Menchaca. He said his sole involvement in the case was making a special appearance for LaForge, who could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Menchaca called 911 at about 3:10am Monday and told dispatchers that her 9-month-old daughter had stopped breathing, Hollister Police Department Spokeswoman Rosie Betanio said Tuesday. Local police, firefighters and medics responded to the Valley View Road apartment and performed CPR on the infant. They were unable to revive her.
Emergency room officials at Hazel Hawkins Hospital pronounced the girl dead at 4:09am.
Betanio said investigators began an intensive investigation at Menchaca’s home following the infant’s death. Investigators believe the infant may have ingested a toxic substance, possibly a narcotic pill. An unknown pill was found at the home and has been sent to the lab for further testing. The Monterey County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy Monday, but Hollister detectives are still waiting for definitive toxicology reports to determine the cause of death, Betanio said.
Based on Menchaca’s statements to investigators and evidence at the home, detectives believe the infant may have ingested the substance the night before, Betanio said. They further believe that Menchaca made no effort to give her daughter medical attention and was high on methamphetamine when the girl died, Betanio said.
By Monday afternoon, detectives said they had probable cause to arrest Menchaca. She was arrested on charges of second-degree murder, willfully causing great bodily injury or death to a child and failing to care for a child.
Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller said investigation into the infant’s death is ongoing.
“Officers will continue preparing this case for the District Attorney’s Office and we’re waiting for toxicology reports to come back from the lab,” he said. “But there were indications that the child was in distress and the mother did not summon medical help early on.”
Menchaca was also caring for at least one other child, a young boy, at the time of the infant’s death. Miller did not know the whereabouts of the child, but had been told Child Protective Services had at least temporary custody of the boy. The whereabouts of the infant’s father at the time of the incident are also unknown, Betanio said.
At the time of her arrest by Hollister detectives, Menchaca was on probation in Santa Clara County for drug violations, Betanio said.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
