Mother of baby found dead behind Bellflower mortuary speaks out, baby’s father is person of interest
An 8-month-old baby girl found dead in a car seat behind a Bellflower mortuary was identified Tuesday as the daughter of a Sacramento man who authorities said made suicidal statements to family members before going missing.
The child was found dead in a car seat partially covered by a blanket around 10:35 a.m. Monday behind the mortuary in the 10300 block of Alondra Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office as 8-month-old Alexia Rose Echeverria. An autopsy was pending, so there was no immediate word on how the child died.
Alexia’s mother, Karla Alvarado, spoke out for the first time Tuesday since hearing about her daughter’s death. “[Detectives showed me a picture] It was her car seat, her blanket. they told me if I could identify her body, and I couldn’t. I didn’t want to see her like that,” said Alvarado.
The baby was the daughter of 22-year-old Alexander Echeverria, who remains unaccounted for, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Trina Schrader. “We believe the (baby’s) death occurred in Sacramento County,” Schrader said, adding that all other information about the case would be released by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. SCSO Sgt. Tess Deterding said Echeverria’s family members reported him missing on Monday.
Alvarado says Echeverria’s brother spoke with him last and described what may have been Alexia’s final hours.
“He told him that he was playing with her, throwing her up, and he slipped, and she fell, and she wasn’t waking up. He said he got scared, and he drove to the hospital, but he never went in because he thought no one would believe him that it was an accident,” Alvarado said.
“At the time, he was believed to be traveling with his 8-month-old daughter …,” Deterding said.
“Alexander was last seen in Southern California early Monday morning. The Sacramento Sheriff’s Office is currently working with local and federal agencies to identify the whereabouts of Alexander.”
Earlier, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement indicating that Echeverria was last seen with his 8-month-old daughter about 10:30 p.m. Friday driving in Bellflower in a gray 2014
Volkswagen Jetta, California license number 7FFT866. He is still believed to be driving that vehicle, Deterding said.
“he should’ve told me this happened and face the consequences if he had to go to jail, then deal with it. deal with it. but my baby didn’t have to go through all that,” said Alvarado.
“Alexander is considered a person of interest in the death of Alexia,” Deterding said. “He is considered at-risk due to suicidal statements made to family members recently.” Officials circulated a photo of Echeverria, described as Hispanic, 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts was urged to call the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-5115, or the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-HELP. Also, people may leave tips anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com, or by calling 916-874-TIPS. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward by providing information leading to the arrest of Echeverria through Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers, Deterding said.
