• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • Riverside
  • Weather
  • Detectives Seek Help in Solving Fairfax Area Homicide
  • Fire Damages Lancaster Apartment
  • Parolee Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Loaded Handgun
  • `Mank' Leads Golden Globe Nominations As Netflix Looks To Have Big Night
  • Jane Fonda, Norman Lear To Receive Honors At Golden Globe Ceremony

Home » OC » This Article

Modern mother love? Screaming son, 4, allegedly trapped in car while mom shops

Posted by Debbie L. Sklar on January 20, 2016 in OC | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Google map can not be displayed. An API key is required. Please see Settings > Symple Shortcodes for more info.

An Anaheim woman was behind bars Wednesday on suspicion of leaving her screaming  4-year-old son in her car for hours while she went shopping in Santa Ana, police said.

Arica Jenee Ayala, 27, was being held on $120,000 bail, according to jail records.

Ayala drove to MainPlace Mall in downtown Santa Ana and parked her car just before 8 p.m. Tuesday, Santa Ana Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. Shoppers in a neighboring car who arrived the same time came back about a half-hour later and noticed “there’s a kid left alone yelling and screaming, so they called paramedics and us,” Bertagna said.

The boy was in a child-safety seat, and the car’s door was unlocked, Bertagna said.

“Thank God it wasn’t summer,” Bertagna said, adding the boy could have suffered weather-related injuries in hot weather.

Officers went to Ayala’s home in Anaheim to see if any other family member was available, and they also had announcements made in the shopping center about the boy, Bertagna said.

After the mall closed at 9:30 p.m., Ayala came back to the car, Bertagna said.

“She initially lied and said, ‘Oh, I left my sister with him,”‘ Bertagna alleged. “Her story didn’t pan out, and she eventually admits there was no sister.”

Ayala said she “forgot” about her son, according to Bertagna.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

She was booked on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death, Bertagna said.

No other family member could be found, so the boy was placed in the custody of the county, Bertagna said.

—Staff and wire reports

Modern mother love? Screaming son, 4, allegedly trapped in car while mom shops was last modified: January 20th, 2016 by Debbie L. Sklar

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in OC | Tagged accused, Anaheim, Arica Jenee Ayala, arrested, car, hours, leaving, MainPlace Mall, mom, Santa Ana Police, son, Unattended

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
64°
Clear
Feels like: 64°F
Wind: 7mph WNW
Humidity: 19%
Pressure: 29.92"Hg
UV index: 0
SunMonTue
72/46°F
73/46°F
70/46°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • 24-Year-Old Woman Killed In Freeway Crash In Tustin Identified By Coroner 6,400 views
  • Ex-Teacher, Ex-Coach Accused of Illicit Sexual Contact with Riverside Girls 4,400 views
  • Homeless Woman Raped, Then Found Dead On Pomona Street: Homeless Suspect Says ‘Not Guilty’ 3,200 views
  • Murrieta Man Killed in Fiery Crash in Wildomar 2,200 views
  • Hunt For Killer In Bloody Anaheim Hotel Slashing 1,400 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service