A Minnesota mother has been charged with second-degree unintentional murder after her 20-month-old son died and a medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Valerie Zamora, 32, was charged after allegedly delaying medical care for her son, stopping at a Walmart on the way to the hospital, according to court documents obtained by WCCO. The boy was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a Moorhead hospital on May 15.
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Authorities say the child became severely ill on May 14, but instead of seeking medical help, Zamora gave him Tylenol and Gatorade and continued running errands. Witnesses reportedly urged her to take the boy to the hospital the following day, but she waited until her partner returned home that evening.
According to police, one of Zamora’s children came home from school between 4:30 and 5 p.m. and was immediately alarmed by the toddler’s condition. The girl told officers she feared the boy might die in her arms. Zamora allegedly responded that she would go to the hospital once her partner arrived.
Surveillance footage shows the family stopping at a Walmart around 10:12 p.m., where Zamora purchased Pedialyte. While she was inside, her partner reportedly ran in to tell her the toddler was vomiting blood. The family then rushed to the hospital, but the child was declared dead by 11:05 p.m.
When questioned by investigators, Zamora said the boy had started vomiting the day before, but police accused her of changing her account. She also claimed he bruised easily, though police noted visible injuries.
An autopsy revealed the child suffered blunt force trauma, rib fractures, and multiple contusions. The coroner determined his death was the result of an assault and classified it as a homicide.
During a later interview, Zamora admitted she delayed taking her son to the hospital because she was afraid child protective services would intervene due to “obvious neglect.”
Zamora was arrested in Fargo on Friday and is currently being held in the Cass County Jail. Authorities plan to extradite her to Moorhead to face the murder charge.
