Yolo Superior Court Judge David W. Reed has ruled on January 10 that there is sufficient evidence for the trial of Aquelin Talamantes to move forward; the defendant is scheduled to return to court for arraignment on January 24.
Talamantes is accused of drowning her daughter, Tatiana, five, in the family home in East Davis. Talamantes then allegedly placed the girl’s body in the truck of her car and drove to the home of relatives in Sacramento’s Pocket area. The Pocket area is in southwest Sacramento, located in a wide curve of the Sacramento River.
Sacramento police Officer Ethan Zeek testified that he arrived at the Pocket residence and found Tatiana grey-faced and wearing purple pajamas. Foam was bubbling on the little girl’s lips, so, thinking she had a chance to live, Officer Zeek immediately initiated Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). After several minutes he was relieved by other officers and neighbors knowledgeable in First Aid. But all their efforts were to no avail; Tatiana died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
“She was wearing purple jammies,” Zeek testified, his voice breaking. He took a minute to regain his composure and then explained he had a daughter the same age as Tatiana.
Aquelin Talamantes had a history, prior to the death of her daughter, of odd behavior. Sacramento Police Detective Scott MacLafferty testified family members had informed him Talamantes suffered from psychosis, schizophrenia, paranoia and possibly bipolar disorder.
“Stupid kids. I can’t take care of them. I don’t want them,” Talamantes allegedly told her sister, Elisa Torres; a statement Torres later quoted to MacLafferty.
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