North Austin Woman Charged After Son With Cerebral Palsy Dies Of Apparent Neglect

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — A North Austin woman has been arrested after the death of her son who suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, police said Thursday.

The case dates to June 20, when officers responded to a deceased person report at 200 Prince Dr. just before 10 p.m. EMS medics called to the scene evaluated the condition of Edgar Carbajal, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Based on his young age of 26 as well as his mental condition, a homicide detective and a medical examiner were called to the scene for further investigation, police said.

During the on-scene investigation, concerns were raised over signs of severe neglect of the deceased man. Based on autopsy findings, the police homicide unit consulted with the district attorney's office to charge the boy's mother, Erica Yanet Flores, 41, with injury to a disabled individual by omission, which is a 1st degree felony.

The official cause of death for Carbajal was ruled as pneumonia caused by bacteremia, due to pressure ulcers from the cerebral palsy. The manner of death was ruled a Homicide. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Flores, who was later arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call the Homicide Tip Line at 512-477-3588 or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or text "Tip 103" + your message to CRIMES or use the new Crime Stoppers App. Those with information about this case also can submit tips by downloading APD’s mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.

>>> Erica Yanet Flores booking photo courtesy Austin Police Department