San Jose Woman Charged with Murder in Smothering Death of Infant
Above: Celina Juarez booking photo | San Jose PD
A San Jose mother has been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly smothering her twin infants, both of whom had to be hospitalized and one of whom later died, according to police.
29-year-old Celina Juarez was identified by police as the woman charged in connection to the death of one of her two 8-month-old twins. According to court documents, on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 4, Juarez had become frustrated while trying to breastfeed the children and smothered each of them against her body for several minutes. Juarez then discovered one of them was no longer breathing and contacted police.
Officers responded to Juarez’s residence on Hurlingham Way, where they and medical personnel attempted CPR on the infant. Both children were ultimately taken to intensive care, where one of them was pronounced deceased the following day, November 5. At some point, Juarez herself reportedly suffered an unspecified medical emergency and was hospitalized.
Juarez remained in the hospital until Wednesday, November 16, when she was arrested on homicide charges and booked at the Santa Clara county jail.
