Case # 12CF1980
Date: March 27, 2015
MOTHER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDERING 2-MONTH-OLD BABY GIRL BY DROWNING HER IN BATHTUB
SANTA ANA – A mother was sentenced today to 25 years to life in state prison for murdering her 2-month-old baby girl by drowning her in a bathtub. Lucero Carrera, 30, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury on Jan. 26, 2015, of one felony count each of first degree murder and assault on a child under 8 years old with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death. On Feb. 9, 2015, the same jury found that Carrera, who had entered pleas of “not guilty” and “not guilty by reason of insanity,” was legally sane at the time of the murder.
In June 2012, Carrera lived in a trailer in Santa Ana with her mother and her 2-month-old baby daughter Kimberly Gutierrez.
At approximately 4:20 p.m. on June 29, 2012, immediately after Carrera ingested a large quantity of pills in an attempt to kill herself. She then filled her Jacuzzi bathtub halfway with water and intentionally murdered her baby by drowning her in the tub.
Carrera’s mother returned home from shopping and discovered baby Kimberly face-down in the bathtub.
The Santa Ana Police Department, who investigated this case, responded to the scene. Carrera was located in the trailer and transported to the hospital.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.