Woman Wanted In Grandson's Death 'Bragged' About Social Services Calls Against Her
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Wheat Ridge are searching for a grandmother in the drowning death of her 10-year-old grandson.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Onesia Ann Najera stemming from the death of her grandson Angel Goodwin in May.
Najera, 50, has been charged with two counts of child abuse resulting in death, both class two felonies. One of the charges is for an alleged pattern of abuse.
Najera called 911 saying that her grandson was unresponsive. When emergency crews responded to the apartment neighbors were performing CPR on the child. He was rushed to the hospital but died the next day.
Goodwin had developmental disabilities. He had reportedly drowned in a bathtub.
Officers confirmed they have been called to the apartment in the 2600 block of Chase Street on several occasions. Najera was being investigated for child neglect before her grandson died.
According to arrest papers, there were more than 50 reports against Najera relating to four different children. A family member told detectives that Najera actually had "bragged about how many Social Services calls she had on her and how conniving she was about getting out of them."
The lengthy arrest warrant details an investigation that has lasted for more than two months. Sgt. Mark Moellenberg with Wheat Ridge police says they left no stone unturned.
"This has been a lengthy, detailed investigation and we wanted to make sure that we had all the facts in before we rushed into the court proceedings," Moellenberg told CBS4.
Detectives from the Wheat Ridge Police Department and other agencies have been attempting to locate Najera without success.
"She was the only one in the apartment with Angel Goodwin at the time of the drowning," Moellenberg said. "So she was really the only suspect in this case."
She is described as a Hispanic female, 50-years-old, 5-foot-5, about 124 pounds with brown hair. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Wheat Ridge Police Department at 303.237.2220.
