Authorities say the child’s body was discovered in a tote bag after a 911 call led officers to a Flagstaff hotel.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — An Arizona woman has been charged with multiple felonies, including murder, after police found the body of her 16-month-old son inside a tote bag at a Flagstaff hotel on May 17. Investigators say the discovery followed a 911 call in which the mother allegedly told a dispatcher that she had killed the child.
Prosecutors say the case involves a series of events that began weeks before the body was found and ended with a grand jury indictment containing nearly two dozen felony counts. Authorities allege the child suffered injuries, was denied medical care as his condition worsened, and later died. The case has drawn significant attention in northern Arizona because of the age of the victim, the allegations outlined in court documents, and the number of charges filed against the defendant.
According to investigators, officers responded to a Flagstaff hotel on the morning of May 17 after receiving a 911 call from 32-year-old Ochra Manakaja. Court records allege that she told the dispatcher, “I killed him,” before ending the call. When officers arrived, they located the remains of a toddler wrapped inside a tote bag that had been placed in a plastic storage container. Authorities later identified the child as Manakaja’s 16-month-old son. Prosecutors allege the events leading to the child’s death began on April 29. Investigators say Manakaja told police she became frustrated because the boy would not stop crying and threw him into a crib. In the days that followed, according to court documents, the child became increasingly ill, appearing weak, pale and unable to eat normally.
Detectives allege the boy began vomiting and later developed a fever. Investigators say Manakaja admitted she did not seek medical treatment because she feared getting into trouble. Court filings state that on May 1 she found the child unresponsive. Authorities allege she attempted to wake him but did not call emergency services. Instead, prosecutors say, she later wrapped the body, secured it with tape and placed it in a freezer. Investigators contend the remains stayed there for approximately two weeks before being moved. Officers who searched the hotel room found the tote bag containing the child’s body inside a larger plastic container. Court records also indicate two other children, ages 7 and 9, were present during the investigation. Authorities removed them from the home environment and reported that neither child appeared physically injured.
The allegations have raised questions about what occurred during the period between the child’s reported death and the discovery of his body. Investigators are continuing to review evidence, including statements provided to police and physical evidence collected during the search. Prosecutors have not publicly released details from any autopsy findings beyond information included in charging documents. Officials also have not disclosed whether additional witnesses observed the child’s condition before his death. Court records indicate Manakaja allegedly told investigators she believed the boy may have died after choking on vomit. Authorities have not publicly confirmed a final cause of death. The case remains under active review as prosecutors prepare for future court proceedings.
A grand jury indictment filed in Coconino County charges Manakaja with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, one count of abandonment or concealment of a dead body and 18 child-abuse-related counts. Prosecutors allege some of those counts relate to conduct that could have caused death or serious physical injury, while others involve separate acts of abuse alleged during the investigation. Court records available after the indictment did not list a plea. It was also not immediately clear whether defense counsel had entered a response to the allegations. County Attorney Ammon Barker said the criminal justice system has a responsibility to protect vulnerable children and that prosecutors intend to pursue the case aggressively. Future hearings are expected to address procedural matters and determine how the case moves toward trial.
The investigation has left many residents shaken by the circumstances described in court documents. Police officers arriving at the hotel encountered a scene unlike most child welfare cases, with the body concealed inside multiple layers of storage materials. Prosecutors say the allegations suggest weeks passed between the child’s death and the emergency call that brought officers to the hotel. Community members have expressed concern for the two surviving children who were found during the investigation. Child welfare agencies became involved after the arrests, and authorities have said their immediate focus included ensuring the safety of those children. While investigators continue assembling evidence, officials have emphasized that the charges remain allegations that must be proven in court. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
The case remains pending in Coconino County Superior Court. Prosecutors are expected to continue reviewing evidence as court proceedings advance, with future hearings likely to determine scheduling, motions and the next major steps in the criminal case.
Author note: Last updated May 28, 2026.