Dead Mother Found With Toddler Was Strangled

The 23-year-old woman found dead in a Mission Valley field with her bloodied daughter atop her was strangled and stabbed, police announced Thursday.

Maria Bianca Cortes died in the barren field near Metropolitan Drive and Mission Valley Road after being strangled, but a stab wound to the lower body probably contributed to her death, Police Lt. John Welter said.

She had not been sexually assaulted, Welter said.

Cortes was found by two people about 7 a.m. Wednesday, with her 2-year-old daughter, Brianna Elise Griego, sitting on top of her bloodied body, Welter said.

Brianna, who was not harmed, was treated for hypothermia at a local hospital and released, Welter said. She is still in the custody of the county Department of Social Services, and it is unknown when she will be released, officials said.

The time of Cortes’ death is still unknown, but police think she may have been killed during the night, because Brianna’s low body temperature indicated that she may have been outside for several hours, Welter said.

Cortes, who worked as a housekeeper and baby-sitter, was last seen in Linda Vista about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after leaving the home of a friend, Welter said.

The child’s father, Raul Ernesto Griego, 24, phoned police early Wednesday to report Cortes and their daughter missing. He has been questioned and released, Welter said.

Police so far know no motive and have no suspects in the crime, Welter said.

Meanwhile, police said they do not yet know if there is a link between Cortes’ death and three other knife slayings that have occurred in the Bay Park area since last Saturday. The dead were found within a few miles of each other.

Angela Kleinsorge, 84, was found dead in her Gaines Street home Saturday. Her throat had been slashed, and she had apparently been sexually assaulted, police said.

Monday, the bodies of John and Katherine Oren were found by their great-grandson in their Deerpark Drive home. The elderly couple had been stabbed and beaten to death Sunday night, as their 10-year-old great-grandson listened in horror from another room, police said.

Stabbing Deaths 1. The body of Angela Kleinsorge, 84, was found Feb. 29 at her Gaines Street home. Her throat was slashed, and she had apparently been sexually assaulted. 2. John and Katherine Oren, both in the late 70s, were stabbed and beaten to death in their Deerpark home sometime after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, as their frightened great-grandson hid in his room. 3. The body of Maria Bianca Cortes, 23, was found in a field at Metropolitan Drive and Mission Valley Road on Wednesday morning. She had been strangled and stabbed. Her unharmed 2-year-old daughter was found with her.