Mother held in killing of 3 girls

Three young children were found slain in a home in the unincorporated Torrance area Tuesday evening, and their mother was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said.

Deputies responded to the home in 1000 block of West 223rd Street about 5:20 p.m. and “were met by family members who told the deputies that a mother had killed her children,” Sheriff’s Department officials said in a statement.

The victims were girls who ranged in age from 2 months old to 3 years old, authorities said. They were found in the same room of the small home.

Department officials identified the mother as Carol Coronado, 30, and said she was being taken to the Carson station, where she would be booked on suspicion of murder. Authorities said a grandmother called 911.

Late Tuesday, detectives were trying to piece together what happened. “There was a lot of blood,” Lt. Dave Coleman said. “It was a pretty substantial scene inside the residence.”

He said investigators recovered several knives but added that there “could be multiple causes of death.”

The father and the grandmother were at the home when deputies arrived, Capt. Duane Harris said. The father was also being questioned late Tuesday at the Carson station.

As detectives gathered evidence, resident Monica Morales stood near the yellow crime tape and watched. She has lived in the neighborhood all her life and attended an elementary school across the street.

“We always drive right by that house,” said Morales, 24, adding that she was shocked to hear about the slayings.

“It’s not that kind of neighborhood,” she said.

nicole.santacruz@latimes.com

richard.winton@latimes.com

Times staff writer Robert J. Lopez contributed to this report.