Santa Monica Mom Charged with Murder in Toddler's Death

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A 24-year-old Santa Monica woman has been charged with murder in the death of her 17-month-old daughter. Carmen Degregg pleaded not guilty after being arrested on the UCLA campus, where she allegedly made statements about harming her child. Police found the toddler with "significant injuries" in their apartment and she was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Why it matters

This tragic case has shocked the Santa Monica community and raised concerns about access to mental health resources for new mothers. Degregg's alleged actions have led to calls for improved support systems to prevent such devastating outcomes.

The details

According to police, Degregg was detained by UCLA officers on January 6th after she was wandering on campus and made statements about harming her child. Officers then responded to the family's Santa Monica apartment, where they found the 17-month-old girl with "significant injuries." The toddler was rushed to a hospital but later pronounced dead. Degregg now faces one count of murder and one count of assault, with bail set at $2 million.

• On January 6th, Degregg was detained by UCLA police after making statements about harming her child.
• Police responded to the family's Santa Monica apartment on January 6th, where they found the injured toddler.
• The 17-month-old girl was pronounced dead at the hospital.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Degregg is being held on $2 million bail and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The judge will decide on whether to allow her to be released on bail at a future hearing.