Aunt Blames Death Of Riverside County Toddler On Mom

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- The death of a 3-year-old girl Friday in the unincorporated Riverside County community of Highgrove was being investigated as a possible homicide, with a relative alleging the child's mother was responsible.

"We're not disclosing the manner of death right now, but I can say we have multiple people detained, and they're being questioned by our detectives," Riverside County sheriff's spokesman Deputy Mike Vasquez told City News Service Friday afternoon.

Vasquez said deputies were called to a single-story residence in the 3000 block of Cannes Avenue, just north of Interstate 215, about 7 a.m. to investigate reports of a child down.

The victim, identified by family members as "Zayla," was found fatally injured in the backyard of the house, according to reports from the scene that indicated the tot's mother was among four or five individuals detained at the property.

"We're trying to piece it all together to figure out what happened," Vasquez said.

A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Tracylyn Sharrit of Crestline, who identified herself as the victim's aunt, imparted details about what may have transpired to her niece.

Sharrit alleged that Zayla's mother was "mentally ill" and took the girl's life, but didn't say how.

"My sister is in deep mourning over the loss of her grandbaby, and the fact that it was at the hands of her mentally ill daughter weighs heavy on her heart," Sharrit alleged in a description on the GoFundMe page."Please pray for us to find peace in this tragic happening. Mental illness took the life our beautiful baby at the hand of a very mentally sick mother. If you can't give funds, your prayers mean so much to our family."

Sharrit said the family has no means to pay for funeral costs. They're seeking $10,000 in donations.

--City News Service/Photo via GoFundMe