Aquelin Crystal Talamantes, 29, convicted of murdering her daughter Tatiana, 5, at trial in May, has received a sentence of 25 years to life with the possibility of parole for the crime.
According to an account of the sentencing hearing reported in The Davis Enterprise, Tatiana’s grandmother Martha Garcia made a Victim Impact Statement in court before sentence was pronounced. Ms. Garcia brought two of Tatiana’s “…tiny dresses — one a lacy yellow, the other pink-and-white gingham trimmed with bows — and laid them on a podium for Yolo Superior Court Judge Stephen Mock to see.” Garcia went on to say, “I still weep for her when I am alone.”
Specifically, Talamantes was convicted of first degree murder and assault on a child. She drowned Tatiana in a bathtub at her East Davis residence. She then wrapped the child’s body in plastic garbage bags, locked it in the trunk and drove from her home in East Davis to a relative’s residence in Sacramento’s Pocket area. The relatives called police, who attempted to resuscitate Tatiana but could not.
Public Defender Sally Fredericksen had argued an insanity defense for Talamantes, but experts testified during that phase of the trial that Talamantes was not insane when she killed Tatiana.
Talamantes also had faced assault charges from February 14, when, while held on Yolo County Jail, she assaulted two guards, scratching one and spitting on the other. But prosecutors and defense attorneys negotiated and ultimately two felony charges of battery were dismissed against Talamantes “in the interests of justice.”
Judge Mock ordered Yolo Sheriff’s deputies to transfer Talamantes from the county jail to state prison.
Read More:
Davis Enterprise: Talamantes gets life term for daughter’s drowning death
CrimeVoice: Found Sane by Jury, Talamantes Faces State Prison for Daughter’s Murder
CrimeVoice: Davis Mother Accused of Daughter’s Murder Will Stand Trial
CrimeVoice: Mother Accused of Murdering Daughter Found Competent to Stand Trial
