Northern California

Mother Charged in Death of Infant Found in California Swamp Near Sacramento River

Police have arrested the mother of a 20-day-old boy found dead in a swampy area near the Sacramento River in Northern California.

The Sacramento Bee reported Saturday that 23-year-old Samantha Green was arrested in connection with her son Justice Reese. Green was found disheveled and disoriented Tuesday near the Sacramento River in the town of Knights Landing, which is about 30 miles east of Sacramento. The body of her son Justice Rees was found the next day under heavy brush nearby. The coroner said the infant appears either to have drowned or died of hypothermia. Police continue to investigate.

Family members have said they believe Green was abducted. However, Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto told the Bee that investigators have found no evidence of a kidnapping. He declined to elaborate about why Green is the sole suspect.

"At this point here, we feel she was the only individual involved in her child's death," Prieto said at a news conference in Woodland Saturday morning. "There's no other additional evidence indicating that somebody else was involved."

Green is being held without bail at Yolo County Jail in Woodland. The precise murder charge against her will be refined filed by the Yolo County District Attorney, the sheriff said.

Green has declined to be interviewed by the media from her cell at the Yolo County Jail.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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