Police arrested a mother on suspicion of killing her 9-year-old daughter with disabilities after finding the child’s body in their home in Westminster on Friday.
In a previous court document regarding a restraining order from the child’s father, NBCLA discovered she had cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move, according to the CDC.
Westminster police responded to a welfare check at the home in Village Green apartments off Goldenwest Street and Homer Street after they received a call from a concerned family member Friday afternoon.
Police said they arrived to find the 9-year-old girl lifeless with obvious signs of trauma.
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They located her mother, 32-year-old Khadiyjah Pendergraph, at a shopping center about 30 minutes away in Aliso Viejo and arrested her on suspicion of murder.
Neighbors of Pendergraph told NBCLA that she kept to herself and when they did see her daughter, she was in a wheelchair. One neighbor said he had helped Pendergraph get the child out of the car before.
According to court documents, Pendergraph filed for a restraining order from the child’s father in August of 2016 for “domestic violence with child.” Her daughter was 2 years old at the time.
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In the order, she said the child has cerebral palsy and wrote: “is unsafe” with the father, adding that she is the sole caretaker and “will keep her safe at all times.”
NBCLA reached out to Orange County Child Protective Services to ask if they had any involvement with the mother and child prior. A spokesperson said in a statement:
“The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is committed to the protection of vulnerable children, and that mission demands the application of rigorous standards. SSA can neither confirm nor deny that there is a case or investigation related to your inquiry.”
“It just can’t be, it’s like a nightmare. It’s a nice neighborhood. This is, you know, all the neighbors play together. I have four boys, and my boys are always playing with all the children around the block and I just cannot believe it. I’m in shock,” said Evelyn Gonzalez who lives in a neighborhood across the street.
Detectives are continuing the investigation and urge anyone with additional information to contact Detective Marcela Lopez at 714-548-3773, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or by logging on to www.occrimestoppers.org. Callers can remain anonymous.
