Friday, June 24, 2011

Baby killed in microwave, mum held


A 29-year-old mother in the US has been arrested following an investigation found her six-week-old baby most likely died from burns suffered in a microwave oven.

Ka Yang, of Sacramento, California is being held without bail in Sacramento County Jail after an investigation found her baby likely died from burns suffered in a microwave oven.

The baby, Mirabelle Thao-Lo, was found dead in her home with "extensive thermal injuries" on March 17.

Ka Yang is being held without bail
Ka Yang is being held without bail


"It's unthinkable," said Norm Leong, Sacramento Police Department spokesman.

"Everyone was stunned at the cause of death. Even the detectives were shocked."

She had some really deep tissue burns, fourth-degree burns. It was probably the worst case I've seen," said Sacramento County Coroner's Office spokesman Ed Smith.

Early on, detectives speculated that a household appliance, perhaps the microwave, caused the burns, Leong said.

But the rarity of such cases made the investigation more difficult and time-consuming, he said.

Investigators found only two other cases of infants killed in microwaves and a third case of a baby who was burned but survived, he said.

The arrest took three months because investigators had to pinpoint what they believed was the cause of death by looking at similar cases, including ones in Ohio, Texas and Virginia.

Yang's three young boys, who are all under the age of 7, have since been removed from the home by child welfare workers.

Officer Laura Peck said Yang's motive it unknown. No lawyer was listed for the woman.

"We wouldn't assess her mental condition," said Peck.

"That will be up to the court system. The bottom line is no one knows what happened in that house but her and the little baby."
Source: sacbee.com

Published June 23 2011


Warm Regard, Sara Pandian

No comments:

Search This Blog