An Arizona mother has been arrested after allegedly killing her 15-month-old son and hiding his body in a freezer for weeks.
The Incident
Ochra Manakaja, 31, told Flagstaff police that she threw her son into his crib out of frustration on April 29 when he was crying. She later called 911 from a La Quinta Inn, saying, “I killed him,” before hanging up. Police found the baby wrapped in plastic inside a clear box, with a body temperature of 26 degrees. Two other children, ages 7 and 9, were unharmed and safely removed from the hotel room.
Investigation Details
Court documents allege that Manakaja struck the child and left him without medical care despite his vomiting, fever, and weakness. She later put the baby in a freezer to hide the body. She admitted to police that she killed her son.
Charges and Custody
Manakaja faces first-degree murder, child abuse, and concealment of a deceased body. She is being held in Coconino County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond.
