SANTA ANA – A 36-year-old La Habra mother accused of pushing her infant son off a parking structure to his death in 2011 has been found mentally fit to stand trial.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons said there is evidence that Hermosillo was aware of what she was doing and deliberated before pushing the baby over the edge.
Her defense attorney, Jacqueline Goodman, maintains that Hermosillo, who has two older daughters, was mentally ill and suffered from post-partum psychosis after the birth of her third child.
Goodman said Hermosillo developed her illness during the pregnancy and suffered a psychotic break as her husband desperately tried to get her help.
Goodman said Hermosillo received inadequate mental-health care in the months prior to the incident.
“This case should serve as the tragic example of the real-life consequences of blame, shame and misunderstanding of mental illness, in general, and postpartum, in particular,” she said.
To read more of Kelly Puente's article, please click here.
Comments (0)