Girl found dead in mother’s car trunk ruled a homicide, coroner says

The death of a 5-year-old Davis girl who was found dead in her mother’s car trunk was officially ruled a homicide, coroner’s officials announced Friday.

Her mother, Aquelin Crystal Talamantes, 29, was arrested Sept. 26 after she drove to a family member’s apartment in Sacramento from Davis with her 4-year-old son. Her daughter, Tatiana Alexia Rose Garcia, allegedly was in the trunk, local media reported.

Her relatives called police after becoming concerned when she arrived at the apartment with the boy but not her daughter, authorities told the Sacramento Bee.

Soon after Sacramento police arrived, they discovered Tatiana unresponsive in the trunk of the car. With the help of neighbors, first-responders tried to revive her. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

It was not known when the girl was placed in the trunk, but police told Fox40 it preceded a fight between Talamantes and a man.

Talamantes has since pleaded not guilty to murder. Yolo County prosecutors also have accused Talamantes of beating Tatiana, prompting a second charge of assault on a young child with force likely to result in death, the Bee reported.

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