Santa Ana mom arrested after abandoning 4-year old child who weighed 18 lbs.

SAPD Advisory: Antonia Benitez facing 3 counts of felony child abuse

On 6/3/2013 26 year old Antonia Benitez, of Santa Ana dropped off her 4 year old daughter at a local hospital suffering from open wounds and malnutrition. The 4 year old weighed only 18 lbs.

After dropping off the child, the mother fled.

Social Services was called to the hospital, Santa Ana was contacted.

SAPD went to check on her other 8 kids (ages ranging from 4-16).

All 9 kids (including the 4 year old) are now in custody of Social Services.

OCDA has filed 3 counts of felony child abuse.

Her bail is $250k.

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Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF2226: July 18, 2013

MOTHER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ABUSING 4-YEAR-OLD GIRL, WHO WEIGHED ONLY 18 POUNDS, BY DEPRIVING HER OF FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE

SANTA ANA – A mother will be arraigned tomorrow for abusing her 4-year-old daughter by depriving her of food and medical care, causing the child to be severely under-weight at only 18 pounds. Antonia Benitez, 35, Santa Ana, is charged with three felony counts of child abuse with a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury to a child under 5. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 14 years and six months in state prison. Benitez is being held on $250,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, July 19, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

The defendant is a mother to nine children ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old.

Prior to June 2013, Benitez is accused of abusing her 4-year-old daughter, Jane Doe, by depriving her of food, care, and medical attention.

In July 2012, the defendant is accused of taking Jane Doe to the hospital for being under-weight. The case was not reported to law enforcement at that time.

On June 4, 2013, Benitez is accused of taking Jane Doe to the hospital for an infected wound to the victim’s leg. She is accused of failing to care for her daughter and abusing her by failing to adequately feed the victim, who weighed only 18 pounds.

The Social Services Agency and Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) began investigating this case, and the Orange County District Attorney filed charges against Benitez July 9, 2013. She was arrested today, July 18, 2013, by SAPD.

The defendant’s eight other children have been placed in protective custody. The investigation is ongoing.

Deputy District Attorney Caroline Smith of the Family Protection Unit is prosecuting this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486