Mother Charged With Murder in Drowning of Toddler, TX
Woman charged with murder in drowning of toddler (2/13/07 - SAN ANTONIO, TX) - A 29-year-old woman was charged with capital murder in the drowning death of her toddler after she admitted killing the girl, Atascosa County authorities said. Three-year-old Mina Renee Garza was unresponsive when emergency medical technicians arrived at her grandfather's home Monday morning. The girl's grandfather found her in the bathtub, said Atascosa County Chief Deputy David Soward. Her mother, Laura Ann Garza, confessed to deputies at the scene that she had drowned the girl, who lives with her father but was visiting Garza in Charlotte. Garza later provided a written statement detailing the girl's death, Soward said. "She broke down crying during the interview multiple times," he said. Soward declined to discuss a motive. Garza and her husband, Mina's father, filed for divorce in June. The case is pending. Garza was jailed on $1 million bond. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=state&id=5029423

Police: Mother Confesses To Killing Her Child POSTED: 7:27 pm CST February 12, 2007 UPDATED: 10:12 pm CST February 12, 2007 SAN ANTONIO -- Police charged a woman with capital murder after she confessed Tuesday to drowning her 3-year-old daughter in a bathtub, police said. Investigators said Laura Ann Garza, 29, confessed that she killed her daughter Mina Renee Garza in Charlotte, Texas. The incident started when Atascosa County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call just before 9:30 a.m. The caller said his granddaughter had drowned in the tub and he suspected his daughter was responsible. EMS crews tried to revive the child, but she was later pronounced dead when she arrived at the South Texas Regional medical center, police said. Deputies said Garza recently separated from her husband and moved out of their San Antonio home. Garza brought her daughter to live with her at her father's home in Charlotte, police said. Investigators said Garza has no criminal record they are aware of. Investigators also said they are unaware if Garza has any mental problems. Investigators said Garza told them why she killed her daughter when they took her back to the crime scene, but they aren't sharing that information. Investigators said a domestic dispute between Garza and her estranged husband may be at the heart of what happened. A magistrate judge set her bond at $1 million. Investigators said they're looking into claims that Garza was only allowed supervised visits with her daughter. Child Protective Services said they have not had any incidents with the family, but are looking into the claims. http://www.ksat.com/news/10993629/detail.html