A mother of 8-month-old twins has been arrested in the death of one of her children in San Jose earlier this month, according to the police department.
Celina Juarez, 29, of San Jose was taken into custody Wednesday and booked into Santa Clara County jail on homicide charges in the Nov. 5 death, police said.
On Nov. 4 at about 3:15 p.m., officers responded to the 1400 block of Hurlingham Way for a call of unconscious 8-month-old infant twins, police said. One of the children had stopped breathing.
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When officers arrived, they began CPR on the infant who was not breathing, and paramedics eventually took over. Both infants were transported to local hospitals, police said.
The following day, one of the twins was pronounced dead at the hospital while in intensive care, police said.
During the investigation, detectives determined Juarez, mother of the twins, was caring for both at the time of the incident, and she became a suspect in the case, police said. Juarez subsequently suffered from an unknown medical emergency and was taken to a local hospital, where she remained until her arrest.
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Juarez was "frustrated" the babies weren't "latching on" during breast feeding, and she pressed the babies against her breasts until they stopped breathing, according to court documents.
The documents say Juarez saw one baby "gasping for air."
"This is absolutely an emotional and tolling case," San Jose Police Officer Steve Aponte said. "Not only for the grieving family members, but also the officers responding to the scene to provide CPR and first aid."
The identity of the victim was not immediately released.
It was San Jose's 33rd homicide of the year, police said.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Sgt. White or Detective Reckas of the SJPD’s Homicide Unit via email: 4104@sanjoseca.gov and/or 3440@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283. Tips can be anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org.
