A 32-year-old California woman, Khadiyjah Aliyyah Ali Pendergraph, has been taken into custody on suspicion of murdering her nine-year-old daughter. The child’s lifeless body was found in their Orange County residence, showing signs of trauma. Pendergraph was arrested at a shopping center in Aliso Viejo and is currently detained at the Orange County Jail.
The tragic event unfolded last Friday when the Westminster Police were called to perform a welfare check at the family’s home on Goldenwest St. Upon arrival, officers had to force their way into the house where they discovered the young girl’s body.
Pendergraph was not at the scene when the police arrived. However, she was later located and arrested at a shopping center in Aliso Viejo. The circumstances leading to her arrest have not been disclosed.
Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi expressed profound sadness over the incident. He noted that while police officers often deal with tragic situations, this case was particularly disturbing because it involved the alleged murder of a child by her own mother.
The investigation into this distressing event is still ongoing. Authorities have not yet released further details about the motive or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The loss of a young life in such tragic circumstances serves as a stark reminder of the collective responsibility society has to protect and care for children. As the investigation continues, the community is left to mourn the loss of a young girl whose life was tragically cut short.