A five-year-old Florida girl died after her mother kidnapped her and led police on a high-speed chase that ended with her vehicle crashing into a retention pond.
Pamela Tereza Cabrera, 32, led police on a 30-mile pursuit through North Jacksonville on Thursday night, reaching speeds of 90 mph, before she crashed her vehicle into the pond as she tried to exit the interstate.
Officers pulled Cabrera out of the water, but were unable locate her daughter, Vanity, WJAX reported. A dive team eventually found the five-year-old dead at the bottom of the pond.
Cabrera was arrested on several charges, including fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, vehicular homicide and multiple counts of battery.
She lost custody of Vanity in 2020 as she battled schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
She was expected in court on Friday but did not show up due to 'disruptive behavior.' Officials say she is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation at the Jacksonville Jail and is expected in court for arraignment on April 21.
Cabrera (pictured in mug shot) was expected in court on Friday but did not show up due to 'disruptive behavior.' Officials say she is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation at the Jacksonville Jail and is expected in court for arraignment on April 21
Pamela Cabrera (right) was arrested Thursday night after leading police on a 30-mile chase, reaching speeds of 90mph, through North Jacksonville. Her daughter, Vanity (left), was killed after Cabrera crashed her vehicle into a retention pond
Jacksonville Sheriff's officers began pursuing Cabrera after receiving a call about an in-progress kidnapping.
The chase began after an officer attempted to approach Cabrera's vehicle at a traffic light, prompting her to flee.
Police followed Cabrera, who was allegedly armed with a knife, along Interstate 95 for approximately 30 miles until she drove off the exit ramp and into the pond.
Officers exited their vehicles and rushed into the water, where Cabrera was apprehended.
Despite their efforts, police were unable to locate Vanity until it was too late. The little girl's cause of death has not been released.
Officers pulled Cabrera, who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, out of the water but were unable locate Vanity
A dive team eventually found the five-year-old dead at the bottom of the pond
Cabrera's family told police there had been an altercation at their Shore Rush Trail home before the abduction.
Her cousin, who has served as Vanity's guardian for the last two years, said that Cabrera has suffered from mental health issues for quite some time.
'Pamela wasn't a bad person. She just needs help and she didn't get the help she needed from the government. She wasn't a bad person,' Solange Slaquer told the news outlet. 'We tried to look for help plenty times and we called police plenty times to help her, we took her to psychologist and Pamela just needed help.'Slaquer claims that despite Cabrera's efforts, her cousin's mental health battle was like a rollercoaster with many ups and downs.
She claimed that Cabrera's struggles recently worsened after she got pregnant and ceased taking her dedication.
'Even when she was admitted to a mental health hospital and she was taking medications, everything got worse now when she got pregnant again and she wasn't taking the medication,' she said.
Cabrera was arrested on several charges including including fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, vehicular homicide, and multiple counts of battery
Cabrera's family told police there had been an altercation at their Shore Rush Trail home before the abduction. Her cousin, who has served as Vanity's guardian for the last two years, said that Cabrera has suffered from mental health issues for quite some time
According to an affidavit obtained by First Coast News, when Cabrera would take her medication she was 'normal and functioning,' with relatives alleging she would act like herself and was 'able to think clearly'.
However, when she was off her meds she would often lose track of time and go without sleep.
She lost custody of Vanity after Slaquer took care of the child, then 4, for an entire month while Cabrera was unwell.
DCFS had required Cabrera to complete behavioral classes to receive custody of her child. It is unclear if she ever enrolled in or completed the course.
The 32-year-old's mother, Maria Ortiz, claims Cabrera was 'lost' without Vanity.
Ortiz actively tried to seek help for her daughter and was in the process of obtaining power of attorney over her so she could help Cabrera make decisions when she was 'not in the right state of mind'.
The family has asked the public withhold their judgement and and, according to Slaquer, can instead 'pray for us'.
One more photo below.
Comments
Post a Comment