Woman Questioned in Near-Suffocation of Son

An East San Diego woman who telephoned police and told them “I just killed my son” was being questioned Friday night in connection with an apparent attempt to suffocate her infant son with a pillow.

James Robert Deems, 22 months old, was in extremely critical condition late Friday night at Children’s Hospital, being kept alive with life support systems, according to police and hospital spokesmen. The diagnosis was “probable asphyxiation,” hospital spokesman Terry Merryman said.

Deems’ mother, 19-year-old Bonnie Tafoya of 3865 Orange Ave., was being questioned Friday night by police.

Police received a telephone call at 5:41 p.m. from a woman who said she had just killed her son, according to Bill Robinson, police spokesman. Police found the baby without a pulse, began resuscitation, and were able to restore the pulse, Robinson said.

James was taken first to Villa View Community Hospital, then transferred to Children’s Hospital.

Robinson said the baby apparently had been smothered with a pillow, but he had no further details. He said the infant’s father, Daniell Robert Deems, was at the home but was not involved in the incident.