California Mother Accused of Drowning Daughter, Immigration Fears Cited

Graciela Castellanos, a 37-year-old mother, is the prime suspect in the drowning death of her 7-year-old daughter, Rebecca, in their Los Angeles home. Witnesses reported hearing the girl scream, 'Mommy, please no,' shortly before first responders found her unresponsive in the bathtub, leading to a homicide ruling by the medical examiner due to asphyxia and drowning. Castellanos' fiancé attributed her alleged actions to severe mental health struggles and deep depression exacerbated by her fears regarding her immigration status, claiming she had never been violent before. He described her as an 'almost perfect mom' who was planning to marry him in two months and adopt Rebecca. Castellanos has been arrested and is being held on a $2 million bail while the investigation continues. The fiancé expressed shock at the incident and maintained that her mental health challenges might have contributed to this tragic outcome.