Sentenced: Mother Located, Arrested In 1993 Killing Of 3YO Girl In East Palo Alto

[Sugar Cookie]

A woman who left the country shortly after her 3-year-old daughter was found mortally beaten in East Palo Alto in 1993 has been located in Southern California and arrested in connection with the killing, authorities said.

Yolanda Ortega, 54, was tracked to a shopping-center parking lot in Oxnard and arrested by agents with the U.S. Marshals Service, according to East Palo Alto police. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed Ortega was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for murder.

Investigators say that 27 years ago, Ortega and her husband fled to Mexico in the wake of the death of 3-year-old Yvani Sanchez, who was found unresponsive at an apartment complex on June 28, 1993.

Yvani was rushed to Stanford Hospital, where she was pronounced dead about an hour after she was found. According to Mercury News archives, the coroner at the time confirmed the girl died from “multiple traumatic injuries,” and police immediately found suspicious circumstances. Before the death was formally declared a homicide, Ortega disappeared.

In her haste to flee, police said Ortega left behind Yvani’s three siblings, who at the time were ages 4, 1 and 17 days old. Investigators heard over the ensuing years that Ortega occasionally re-entered the country but until now did not have an opportunity to arrest her. The case eventually involved the sheriff’s office, district attorney’s office and U.S. Marshals.

Wagstaffe said investigators recently got word of her latest travels in the country, leading to the arrest in Ventura County, where she is being held awaiting transport back to the Bay Area. Prosecutors expect to see her in court next week.

“She lived half her life on the run. Even though it’s been 27 years, we still think we have witnesses available and the evidence available to the prove the case,” he said. “It’s a real credit to East Palo Alto police and Chief (Albert) Pardini that they never gave up.”

Mother located, arrested in 1993 killing of 3-year-old girl in East Palo Alto

Suspect, now 54, fled to Mexico shortly after Yvani Sanchez died at Stanford Hospital and had been sought since.

www.mercurynews.com

 

[Keepalowprofile]

Investigators say that 27 years ago, Ortega and her husband fled to Mexico

They always come back.

 

[Prettypink513]

Got her!

 

[BBBLUE77]

TAG--You're it! I wonder how many dead babies she left in Mexico since she was spitting them out on the reg.

 

[Jessica78]

She spent 27 years doing what she wanted. Now it's time to lock her ass up in a box and give that little girl the justice she deserved a long time ago. Took a long time but hopefully little one can rest in peace now.

 

[Sejanus]

Life in prison for this murdering scofflaw.

 

[Metal Mcfly]

Life in prison for this murdering scofflaw.

I agree. She deserves nothing less than life in prison without parole.

 

[Pandorama]

She left a newborn baby. Probably it's luckiest day. Only had 17 days of life while risking being killed by its mother.

 

[Sevens My Charm]

The autopsy found evidence of serious child abuse, including recent and older bruising, a fractured rib and strikes with some sort of object. The cause of death was blunt trauma to the neck and chest, and witnesses said Ortega inflicted the injuries.

Ortega faces 25 years to life in prison.

Redirect Notice

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A mom who killed her 3-year-old daughter 29 years ago in East Palo Alto was sentenced yesterday (June 28) to 11 years in prison, a prosecutor said.

But because Yolanda Ortega, 57, has been in jail since July 2020, she has served over two years of her prison sentence already, knocking down the time she has left to nine years.

Ortega pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter on April 20 to the 1993 death of her daughter, Yoani Sanchez.

The girl’s aunt spoke to the court yesterday (June 28), saying she is satisfied with the outcome, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. Before Yoani’s autopsy was completed, Ortega and her husband fled the country, leaving behind three children, ages 1, 4 and 17 days old, according to Wagstaffe.

Ortega was arrested by U.S. Marshals in the parking lot of a Ventura County shopping center on July 7, 2020. She was taken to jail in Redwood City that week, but the case was gone on for three years in part due to Covid restrictions slowing down the court system and various continuances from both the defense and prosecution.

Some 29 years earlier, on June 28, 1993, paramedics responded to a report of an unresponsive 3-year-old, Yoani. The girl was taken to Stanford Hospital but died of her injuries.

The cause of death was later determined to be blunt trauma to the neck and chest. An autopsy revealed evidence of child abuse, such as bruising, a fractured rib and hitting with an unknown object.

The autopsy also revealed older bruising to the child, however, there were no prior reports of child abuse before Yoani’s death.

Witnesses said at the time Ortega was responsible for inflicting the injuries, according to Wagstaffe.

Wagstaffe told the Post in April that his office offered the plea bargain due to proof issues that had come up due to the length of time that had passed since the crime happened.

For instance, there was difficulty getting ahold of witnesses, and because of the passage of time, not all of the witnesses could clearly recall what they had told investigators years ago, Wagstaffe said.

It hurt the prosecution’s ability to prove that it was Ortega and not her husband who was the one responsible for her daughter’s death, Wagstaffe said.

Mother gets 11 years for murder of her daughter, age 3, in 1993 – Palo Alto Daily Post

padailypost.com

 

[Crazy Cat Lady]

I can see where a plea deal was necessary in this case, but still..... nine years in jail? Yoani was only on this earth for three pain-filled years and the egg was free for almost 30 years. How is that justice?