WESTMINSTER, CA – A 32-year-old mother from California has been apprehended in connection with the tragic death of her nine-year-old daughter. The child was discovered lifeless in their Orange County residence last Friday, leading to the arrest of Khadiyjah Aliyyah Ali Pendergraph.
Westminster authorities were alerted to the situation shortly after midday on Friday, following a distress call from a worried family member. The police were dispatched to a residence on the 14100 block of Goldenwest St. in Westminster to conduct a welfare check.
Upon arrival, officers were compelled to force their way into the home. They were met with a grim scene as they found the young girl’s body showing signs of trauma. Pendergraph was not present at the residence when the police discovered the body.
Authorities later located and apprehended Pendergraph at a shopping center in the city of Aliso Viejo. She was subsequently taken into custody and is currently being held at the Orange County Jail.
Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi expressed his dismay at the tragic incident, noting that while officers are often exposed to tragic situations, this particular case was especially disturbing due to the alleged involvement of the child’s mother. The case is still under active investigation.