Pomona: 5-year-old boy drowns; mother is arrested

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A woman was arrested in Pomona on suspicion of drowning her 5-year-old son in a motel bathtub before trying to kill herself with over-the-counter medications, police said today.

Josie Navarro, 23, of Pomona was arrested late Monday on suspicion of killing her son, Edgar Manuel Sanchez Jr.

Police went to the motel in the 1400 block of South Garey Avenue at 9:37 p.m. Monday after the desk clerk called to report a woman was trying to commit suicide in one of the rooms, said Pomona police Sgt. Mike Olivieri.

Officers arrived to find Navarro being restrained by another person on the floor of the room, and Sanchez underwater in a nearby bathtub, Olivieri said.

‘Officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the boy, who seemed unresponsive,’ Olivieri said. ‘Paramedics took him to the Pomona Valley Hospital, but he had died. The officers thought they may have been able to save him but couldn’t.’

Navarro, who had checked into the motel earlier Monday, allegedly drowned her son and then tried to kill herself with over-the-counter sleeping aids, Olivieri said.

After police arrived, Navarro was taken to a hospital for treatment and was later released into police custody. Olivieri said the motive was not known.

Edgar’s father, who was not present at the motel room, has been notified, authorities said.

A fund was established today by the Pomona Police Officers Assn. to help the boy’s family. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the police station at 490 W. Mission Blvd., Pomona, CA 91766. Checks should be made out to the association with a notation on the bottom: ‘Edgar Sanchez Fund.’

—Francisco Vara-Orta