Mom charged with drowning 7-year-old daughter was in a 'deep depression,' fiance says

Graciela Castellanos faces murder charges after allegedly drowning her 7-year-old daughter, Rebecca, in their Van Nuys apartment. The incident occurred on April 11, leading to an autopsy that confirmed asphyxia from neck compression and drowning as the causes of death. Castellanos pleaded not guilty and is held on $2 million bail, facing a possible 25 years to life if convicted. Her fiancé described her as a loving mother struggling with mental health difficulties, suggesting personal crises may have influenced her actions, making the situation profoundly tragic.

"The alleged facts of this case - where a mother is accused of intentionally taking the life of her young child - are profoundly tragic and deeply unsettling," Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a news release.

Castellanos' fiance told ABC7 that his partner suffers from "mental and emotional health issues" and that he believes she was triggered by "a deep depression after she found out she might not become a legal resident."

Castellanos "was an almost perfect mom. She never told a bad word, yelled at the girl, didn't hit her," he said in Spanish. "She was the sweetest mom in the world."

Read at Los Angeles Times