COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A Colorado woman has been charged with first-degree murder and fatal child abuse after her infant drowned in scalding water while she allegedly left the home to buy food and cigarettes.
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports 23-year-old Estella Toleafoa (Toll-ee-ah-FOE-ah) was charged Monday.
An arrest warrant affidavit says Toleafoa told investigators she left 9-month-old Erich Tyler Jr. and his 2-year-old brother in the bathtub with about an inch of water on March 8. She said when she returned about 10 minutes later, the hot water was running, the tub was half full and Erich was floating face-down while his brother stood beside the tub.
An autopsy report says Erich died from scalding and drowning. His brother was unharmed and is in foster care.
It wasn’t clear whether the mother had an attorney.
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Information from: The Gazette,
