The tragic incident unfolded when officers responded to a residence in the 14100 block of Goldenwest Street after noon following a concerned family member’s tip, as revealed in a press release by Westminster police.
In an appalling Orange County murder case, a Westminster woman was apprehended on Friday under suspicion of killing her 9-year-old daughter, according to authorities
Upon arriving, the officers, compelled to conduct a welfare check, forcibly entered the home, discovering the lifeless body of the young girl, alone in the house and displaying “obvious signs of trauma,” according to the police statement.
The mother, identified as 32-year-old Khadiyjah Pendergraph, swiftly became a person of interest in the investigation. Subsequent collaborative efforts between Westminster police detectives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department led to her arrest at an Aliso Viejo shopping center.
Khadiyjah Pendergraph has been booked into the county jail on suspicion of Orange County murder, and authorities have clarified that there are no additional suspects involved
The incident is believed to be isolated, but the shocking nature of the crime has left the community reeling. Expressing the gravity of the situation, Police Chief Darin Lenyi stated in a prepared release, “While police officers are exposed to tragedies daily, this Orange County murder is particularly disturbing, due to the senseless loss of a child allegedly at the hands of her mama.”
Law enforcement is urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward. Detective Marcela Lopez can be contacted directly at (714) 548-3773, or anonymous tips can be relayed to Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6287 or submitted online at www.occrimestoppers.org. The community remains on edge as they grapple with the harrowing details of this Orange County murder case.
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