The case raises questions about the woman's mental state and ability to care for her children.
Newly released court audio reveal more disturbing details in the case against Ochra Manakaja , who is accused of killing her toddler and hiding the body in a freezer at a Flagstaff hotel.
FOX 10's Jacob Luthi learns what the mother told police, and social media, just hours after her child's death. A Flagstaff grand jury returned a 21-count indictment against 32-year-old Ochra Manakaja for murder, child abuse, and concealing a dead body. Court documents and newly released court audio reveal that Manakaja allegedly admitted to killing her 15-month-old son and storing his body in a freezer to hide the smell.
Flagstaff police discovered the toddler's body inside a tote in a hotel room where Manakaja had brought her two other children, ages 7 and 9, to go swimming. Ochra Manakaja, 32, is facing 21 felony counts in connection with the child’s abuse and death. Court documents say the child died on May 1, and Manakaja hid the toddler’s body inside a freezer for weeks to hide the smell, with prosecutors calling the offenses the most horrific imaginable.
Ochra Manakaja has been charged with 21 felony counts, the Coconino County Attorney's Office said. The charges include first-degree murder, second-degree murder, child abuse, and the abandonment or concealment of a dead body. During her first appearance before a judge on May 18, Manakaja was asked, "Miss Manakaja do you want a lawyer to help you with your case?
" She responded with, "Yes. " "The nature and circumstances of this offense are among the most horrific imaginable," prosecutors said during the proceedings. Court documents show Flagstaff police responded to a La Quinta hotel on May 17 after Manakaja called 911 and said her 17-month-old child was dead. When dispatchers asked what happened, investigators say she responded, "I killed him.
"During the court proceedings, it was stated that the "defendant took those two children to La Quinta Inn located atwith their dead brother, frozen, wrapped in material, including duct tape and took them there to go swimming. It's unknown if they knew.
" Two other children, ages 7 and 9, were also inside the hotel room when officers arrived, but police say they were not injured. Prosecutors say Manakaja also admitted to the crime in a note to her sister, writing, "I killed Zion. I abused him.
""She was writing to a Facebook user saying things such as, quote, I'm done. Sorry. I confessed. I killed my baby.
I abused him. He's dead," court officials said. Family members posted a photo to Facebook, calling it a heartbreaking loss that could have been prevented.
Murder Child Abuse Concealing A Dead Body Flagstaff La Quinta Hotel Ochra Manakaja
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