Mom Allegedly Kills Baby, Tosses Toddler Off Balcony, And Then Jumps Herself

A California mother allegedly fatally injured her infant daughter and tossed her young son off a second-story apartment building landing before jumping herself.

On Tuesday morning, police in Upland, California responded to an emergency call about a child screaming, according to the Upland Police Department. While speaking to the 911 operator, the caller then said they witnessed a mother holding a toddler over a second-story landing.

“The mother proceeded to release the toddler, who fell to the ground below,” police stated. “Upon officers arriving on scene, they noticed the child on the floor and the mother subsequently jumped from the second story landing head first.”

The mother jumped as police were approaching, NBC Los Angeles reports.

"She was screaming, and then she threw something,” neighbor Yolanda Tapia told the outlet. “I never thought it would be a baby.”

Police said that as they were providing first aid to the male toddler and the mother, who was later identified as Tierra Ortega, 24, additional officers conducted a safety sweep of the apartment. There they located a “6- or 7-month old female infant unresponsive and not breathing,” according to police.

Tierra Ortega allegedly fatally injured her infant daughter, threw her toddler son off a balcony before jumping. Photo: Upland Police Department

Everyone was transported to a local hospital, but the infant had a fractured skull, among other injuries, and died, according to ABC affiliate WLS-TV. The toddler is in stable condition with a broken foot. Ortega has been treated for facial injuries. After she was medically cleared, she was booked for investigation of homicide, attempted homicide, and child abuse resulting in death, police stated.

It’s not clear if she has a lawyer who can speak on her behalf at this time. Investigators say they do not yet know a motive for the attack.

Her husband was reportedly at work during the incident, according to NBC Los Angeles.