Photo: Sandra Chico (Getty Images)
EAST LOS ANGELES – A mother of three children, all under the age of four, was taken into custody on June 28th, after a call to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) spurred an immediate response to the 600 block of Ferris at approximately 12:45 p.m. Two children had been reported to be not breathing.
LASD Deputies and Paramedics responded to the residence, and life-saving measures were immediately given to the unresponsive children. Later, it was revealed that it was not two, but three children who did not survive, and were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Homicide Investigators processed the scene, collected evidence, and conducted interviews of family members and potential witnesses. “Preliminary information revealed no prior reports of abuse or child neglect to this location or the involved individuals,” said LASD.
Amidst unanswered questions about the incident, their mother was taken into custody, with a report that she may have suffered from post-partum depression. Neighbors and relatives had seen no indication that there had been maltreatment of the children.
LASD announced, “Based on their preliminary investigation, detectives have arrested their biological mother Sandra Chico for the three murders. Suspect Chico is a 28-year-old female Hispanic. She is scheduled to appear in court, Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Wednesday, June 30, 2021 and is being held in lieu of $2,000,000 bail.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that Sandra Chico (dob 7/27/92) was charged on June 30th with killing her three children earlier this week in East Los Angeles. “In an instant, three innocent children were taken from us and we are crestfallen,” District Attorney Gascón said.
“Nothing is more heartbreaking than the tragic betrayal of a parent failing to protect their children.” Chico was charged in case BA496609 with three counts each of murder and assault on a child causing death. Prior to the arraignment, she was being held on $2 Million Bail.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office released the ID’s of the children on July 1st: Mia Camila Rodriguez (4), Mason Mateo Rodriguez (3), and 1-month-old Milan Mateas Rodriguez.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. There is no additional information available at this time.
