1-year-old boy died after his mother waited two days to seek help as he was exhibiting signs of obvious neglect and then made a stop a store instead of taking him directly to the hospital; mother charged
Minnesota – In a deeply troubling case out of Minnesota, a 32-year-old mother, identified as V. Zamora, is facing a second-degree unintentional murder charge after her 1-year-old son died from injuries consistent with prolonged neglect and blunt force trauma. Authorities say the child could have had a fighting chance if his mother had sought immediate medical care instead of delaying help for two days — and even stopping at a store on the way to the hospital. Investigators believe he had been showing clear signs of distress for nearly 48 hours prior to his death.
Zamora was formally charged with second-degree unintentional murder after her 1-year-old son passed away at a hospital. Court documents revealed that the boy suffered severe blunt force injuries, including rib fractures and contusions, which the county coroner classified as fatal assault injuries. The coroner’s report clearly states that the cause of death was homicide. The charges stem from allegations that Zamora neglected to get timely medical treatment for her son despite obvious signs of serious illness and injury.
According to investigators, the boy began showing signs of extreme illness on May 14. Witnesses told police that Zamora did not seek immediate medical care but instead gave the child Tylenol and Gatorade and proceeded with errands as if nothing was wrong. The next evening, when one of Zamora’s other children arrived home from school around 4:30 to 5 p.m., she “immediately” noticed the toddler’s dire condition and urged her mother to take him to the hospital. Zamora reportedly promised she would do so once her partner came home. The older sibling told police she was terrified the baby would die while she was holding him, reflecting the severity of the child’s condition. Yet medical attention was still delayed until the evening of May 15.
Surveillance footage from that night showed the family stopping at a local store at 10:12 p.m., where Zamora purchased a drink used for dehydration. Her partner then rushed back into the store to inform her that the boy was vomiting blood, after which they left quickly and “sped” to the hospital. Unfortunately, the boy was pronounced dead by 11:05 p.m.
During police interviews, Zamora admitted that the boy had started vomiting the day before. However, she was accused of altering her story about the timeline and events. Authorities also questioned her about multiple marks found on the child’s body. Zamora claimed that the boy bruised easily, though the coroner’s autopsy confirmed the bruising and rib fractures were consistent with blunt force trauma. In a later interview, Zamora confessed that she hesitated to seek prompt medical care due to “obviously neglect” in the home and because she feared that social services would intervene and remove her children.
Zamora was arrested and booked into the county jail. She is expecting extradition to face the charge of second-degree unintentional murder. This tragic death underscores the devastating consequences of child neglect and the critical importance of immediate medical intervention when a child shows signs of serious illness or injury. The legal system will now determine the appropriate consequences for Zamora’s actions as this heartbreaking case unfolds. The community is left mourning the loss of a young life cut tragically short, while the authorities continue their investigation to ensure justice is served.
