A Minnesota mother is facing charges of second-degree unintentional murder in connection with the death of her 20-month-old son. The woman, 32-year-old Valerie Zamora, is alleged to have made a detour to a store while on the way to the hospital with her critically ill child. The toddler later passed away at a hospital in Moorhead, a city near the Minnesota-North Dakota border.
Court records indicate that on May 15, Zamora, along with her partner and at least one other child, hurriedly took her son to the hospital. However, according to police reports, the family made a stop at a local Walmart before reaching the medical facility. The records also reveal that the toddler had fallen severely ill the day before. Despite his deteriorating condition and advice from witnesses to seek medical attention, Zamora is said to have given the boy Tylenol and Gatorade and carried on with her daily tasks.
One of Zamora’s other children, upon returning home from school between 4:30 and 5 p.m., noticed the toddler’s critical state. Zamora allegedly reassured her that she would take the boy to the hospital once her partner came home. The child later confided to police that she was afraid her little brother would die in her arms.
On the evening of May 15, the family finally decided to take the boy to the hospital. Surveillance footage from a local Walmart shows the family stopping at 10:12 p.m., where Zamora bought Pedialyte, a rehydration drink. The family hastily left the store after the boy began vomiting blood, and they rushed him to the hospital. The boy was declared dead by 11:05 p.m.
When questioned by the police, Zamora initially stated that the boy had started vomiting the day before. However, police found inconsistencies in her story. They also questioned her about the bruises found on the boy’s body, to which she responded that he bruised easily.
The county coroner’s autopsy report showed that the boy had suffered blunt force injuries, rib fractures, and contusions, consistent with an assault. The coroner declared the death a homicide.
In a later interview, Zamora admitted that she had delayed seeking medical help for her son due to fear of losing her children to social services. Zamora was arrested in Fargo on Friday and is currently in custody at the Cass County Jail. She is expected to be extradited to Moorhead to face the second-degree unintentional murder charge.