Mother Arrested After 15-Month-Old Daughter Found Dead in Santa Monica Apartment

Santa Monica, Calif. - January 6, 2026--A woman believed to be the mother of a 15-month-old girl was arrested Tuesday in connection with the child's death after the infant was found with significant injuries in a Santa Monica apartment.

The incident began shortly before noon when UCLA campus police detained the woman after she made statements indicating she had harmed her child and left the infant inside an apartment on the 2000 block of Broadway, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

UCLA police alerted Santa Monica authorities, who responded to the apartment and discovered the 15-month-old girl suffering from severe injuries. Santa Monica Fire Department paramedics transported the child to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The woman was taken into custody without incident and booked at Santa Monica Jail on suspicion of murder. Authorities have not released the names of the woman or the child, citing the ongoing investigation.

Police described the incident as isolated, stating there is no threat to the public. The cause and manner of death are pending determination by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.Detectives from the Santa Monica Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division are handling the case. No further details were immediately available.