MOTHER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SUFFOCATION-DEATH OF 2-MONTH-OLD BABY AFTER MULTI-HOUR HALLOWEEN DRINKING BINGE

MOTHER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SUFFOCATION-DEATH OF 2-MONTH-OLD BABY AFTER MULTI-HOUR HALLOWEEN DRINKING BINGE

SANTA ANA – A mother will be arraigned tomorrow for killing her 2-month-old baby by allowing him to suffocate in a pile of clothes after a multi-hour drinking binge on Halloween. Corrina Atuatasi, 27, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter by lawful act in unlawful manner, one felony count of child abuse, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison. The People will be requesting Atuatasi be held on $100,000 bail at her arraignment tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

On the night of Oct. 30, 2011, the defendant is accused of being solely responsible for the care of her 2-month-old baby Aiden Galeai while her husband and 2-year-old daughter were away visiting family. Atuatasi is accused of leaving the infant alone in her Garden Grove apartment and going outside into the courtyard to smoke a cigarette.

While outside smoking, the defendant is accused of running into a male neighbor and joining him and his two friends for drinks in the neighbor’s apartment. She is accused of leaving baby Aiden alone in her apartment while she consumed alcohol in another apartment. The defendant is accused of returning to her apartment a short while later, placing the victim in a car seat, and returning with the baby to her neighbor’s apartment to continue drinking. She is accused of leaving the baby in a bedroom for several hours as she drank alcohol with the three men.

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on Oct. 31, 2011, Atuatasi is accused of returning home to her apartment with baby Aiden. She is accused of being severely intoxicated and failing to ensure the health and safety of her baby. She is accused of neglecting the infant, who ended up face-down in a pile of clothing. It is unclear at this time if the baby was dropped on the pile as the defendant returned home or kicked off the bed into the pile by the defendant as she slept. Atuatasi is accused of killing baby Aiden, who suffocated to death.

At approximately 6:00 a.m., the defendant is accused of waking up and calling 911 to report that she could not find her baby. After calling the police, Atuatasi is accused of finding the victim face-down in a pile of clothes and moving him to the bed. The Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) responded to the scene and found baby Aiden dead on the bed.

At approximately 8:00 a.m., Atuatasi is accused of having a blood alcohol level on .23 percent.

The defendant was arrested Nov. 23, 2011, by GGPD, who investigated this case.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Susan Price of the Orange County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting this case.