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New details revealed in mother's confession of killing toddler in Flagstaff hotel
Newly released court audio reveal more disturbing details in the case against Ochra Manakaja, who is accused of killing her toddler and hiding the body in a freezer at a Flagstaff hotel. FOX 10's Jacob Luthi learns what the mother told police, and social media, just hours after her child's death.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - New court audio is revealing more about the case against a Flagstaff mother accused of killing her 17-month-old child and storing his body in a hotel freezer.
The backstory:
Ochra Manakaja, 32, is facing 21 felony counts in connection with the child’s abuse and death. Court documents say the child died on May 1, and Manakaja hid the toddler’s body inside a freezer for weeks to hide the smell, with prosecutors calling the offenses the most horrific imaginable.
On May 22, a grand jury returned a 21-count indictment charging Manakaja with murder, child abuse, and concealing a dead body.
Flagstaff mom accused of killing her toddler, hiding body in freezer indicted by grand jury
Ochra Manakaja has been charged with 21 felony counts, the Coconino County Attorney's Office said. The charges include first-degree murder, second-degree murder, child abuse, and the abandonment or concealment of a dead body.
What we know:
During her first appearance before a judge on May 18, Manakaja was asked, "Miss Manakaja do you want a lawyer to help you with your case?" She responded with, "Yes."
"The nature and circumstances of this offense are among the most horrific imaginable," prosecutors said during the proceedings.
Court documents show Flagstaff police responded to a La Quinta hotel on May 17 after Manakaja called 911 and said her 17-month-old child was dead. When dispatchers asked what happened, investigators say she responded, "I killed him."
Officers then entered the hotel room and found the toddler’s body inside a tote.
Dig deeper:
During the court proceedings, it was stated that the "defendant took those two children to La Quinta Inn located at 1000 N. Bronco Way with their dead brother, frozen, wrapped in material, including duct tape and took them there to go swimming. It's unknown if they knew."
Two other children, ages 7 and 9, were also inside the hotel room when officers arrived, but police say they were not injured. Prosecutors say Manakaja also admitted to the crime in a note to her sister, writing, "I killed Zion. I abused him."
Hours later, she posted about it on social media.
"She was writing to a Facebook user saying things such as, quote, I'm done. Sorry. I confessed. I killed my baby. I abused him. He's dead," court officials said.
What they're saying:
Family members posted a photo to Facebook, calling it a heartbreaking loss that could have been prevented.
"There is zero doubt about defendant's guilt or the heinousness of her acts," prosecutors stated.
Map of the area where the hotel is located:
The Source: Court documents and previous FOX 10 reports