STOCKTON, Calif. -- Malinda Beach could not hold back the tears, grieving over the death her 4-year-old daughter, Serenity.
"Serenity should be here with her mom, her brothers and sisters. But, she's not now," said Beach.
Stockton Police say they were called out to an area hospital Sunday, when they learned the girl had severe injuries. She was sent to UC Davis Medical Center but died Tuesday. Police later learned the alleged abuse happened at the family home just north of East Hammer Lane, near State Highway 99 in Stockton.
Officers arrested the girl’s stepmother, 21-year-old Zulma Chavez-Ventura. She faces felony charges of murder, assault resulting in death and willful cruelty to a child. The little girl's four and five-year-old brothers were taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services (CPS).
"Now my daughter's dead. They murdered my baby," said Malinda Beach.
“Speaking with investigators, this case was very severe. Just the injuries alone shocked the investigators," said Stockton Police Officer Joe Silva.
In fact, in a custody case, Wednesday, deciding where Serenity's siblings would remain for now, details documented by CPS emerged. The girl appeared at the hospital with "substantial traumatic injuries." A CT scan revealed "blood in the brain both new and old."
Investigators wrote a "retinal hemorrhage" injury "could only occur by substantial shaking or by a massive external force, such as a car accident." In the report, the girl's father and stepmother said Serenity was injured by "running into a ladder attached to a bunk bed."
But, the stepmother later changed her story, saying "she lifted the minor, Serenity, above her head and slipped backwards, causing Serenity to fall and hit her head."
Beach says she lost custody of her children two years ago following a car accident in which a trace of meth was found in her system.
"They deserve so much more than they were given," Beach said.
Beach says CPS should have done more before it was too late for her daughter. ABC10 reached out to the agency but have yet to receive a reply.
Chavez-Ventura is set to be arraigned Thursday afternoon in a San Joaquin County Superior Court. For now, she remains in San Joaquin County jail on no bail. The investigation continues with the possibility of more arrests.
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