WESTMINSTER, CA – A horrifying event has transpired in Orange County, California, where a mother stands accused of the unthinkable: the murder of her own child. The lifeless body of the nine-year-old girl was found in their home on Friday, leading to the mother’s arrest.
Khadiyjah Aliyyah Ali Pendergraph, the 32-year-old mother, was apprehended at a shopping center in Aliso Viejo. She was subsequently taken to the Orange County Jail.
The alarm was raised by a family member who grew concerned about the child’s welfare. This led the Westminster Police Department to the residence on the 14100 block of Goldenwest St. in Westminster. Arriving just after midday on Friday, the officers found the home locked and unresponsive. They had no choice but to force entry.
Inside, they were met with a heartbreaking sight: the body of the young girl bearing signs of trauma. Pendergraph was not present when the gruesome discovery was made. She was later tracked down and arrested at the Aliso Viejo shopping center.
Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi expressed his profound sadness at the event. He noted that while police officers are regularly exposed to tragic incidents, this case was particularly harrowing due to the alleged involvement of the child’s mother.
The investigation into this alarming event continues.