A California mom has been convicted of pushing her 7-month-old son to his death from the fourth story of a hospital parking garage, prosecutors said.
Sonia Hermosillo, 41, of La Habra, was found guilty Wednesday of one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of assault on a child causing death, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
The jury will determine whether the mom was legally sane when she sent Noe Medina Jr. plunging to his death at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County on Aug. 22, 2011.
Hermosillo allegedly suffered from mental health issues after the birth of the boy, who was receiving treatment for medical issues, such as congenital muscular torticollis, a condition in which an infant holds his or her head tilted to one side, news station KTLA reported.
“He was sick, and his mother didn’t want him,” prosecutor Mena Guirguis told jurors at the trial. “She made a cold-hearted decision to kill her child.”
Prosecutors allege that Hermosillo drove to the hospital on a day that the boy didn’t have an appointment, then took off the helmet he was wearing and pushed him off the garage.
“Hermosillo then walked inside the hospital, validated her parking, and drove away,” the district attorney’s office said.
Hermosillo was arrested after her husband reported to law enforcement that she and the baby were missing.
The boy died two days after his fall.
In her police interview, she allegedly told police that she had “hate, resentment and anger” toward the boy “because he’s sick,” authorities said.
“The most basic job of a parent is to keep their children safe from harm,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.
“This child didn’t even have the chance to take his first steps, say his first word, or even celebrate his first birthday before he was murdered by the very person whose job was supposed to keep him safe.”
Hermosillo had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The next phase of her trial will begin on Aug. 24 to determine whether she was sane.
If found legally sane, she could face 25 years to life in prison.
With Post wires