Mother Arrested For Abusing Six Week Old Baby

Santa Barbara - July1st, 2010

A 19-year old woman from Goleta is facing child abuse charges for serious injuries to her six week old baby.

At approximately 2:49am on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on a report of child abuse. Responding deputies found that a six-week old infant boy had been admitted to the Emergency Room with severe head trauma; the apparent victim of physical violence.

Deputies were advised that the child’s 31-year old father and 19-year old mother had originally taken the infant to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital for seizures before the baby was transferred to SB Cottage Hospital. Due to the severity of the injuries, the child has since been taken to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles for specialized treatment.

Based on the initial assessment, Deputies called SBSO detectives to investigate further. During the subsequent investigation detectives learned the infant appeared to have suffered other injuries that are in different phases of healing. After gathering more information and interviewing both parents, Sheriff’s detectives believe that the mother caused the injuries to the child.

Detectives arrested Rocio Ochoa Silva (DOB 5/21/91) for felony child abuse. She is currently being held in the Santa Barbara County Jail on a no bail immigration detainer. A booking photo is not available at this time. If it becomes available, it will be released to the media as soon as possible.

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