Mom Accused of Dr*wning 7-Year-Old Daughter in Bathtub While She Cries 'Mom, Please No' Out of Fear of Deportation

A mother in California is facing serious charges after being accused of strangling and drowning her 7-year-old daughter in their bathtub. Neighbors reported hearing the girl scream, “Mommy, please no!” right before the incident, which her fiancé believes was influenced by her struggles with depression and worries about her immigration status.

Graciela Castellanos, 37, was allegedly dealing with mental health problems and feared being deported because of her immigration status, according to her fiancé, who spoke to local news outlet KABC but asked to remain anonymous. He described Castellanos as an "almost perfect mom" who never harmed her daughter or spoke badly to her.

The fiancé mentioned that he arrived home after the police had already been called, but he didn't see either Castellanos or her daughter when he got there. The incident reportedly occurred around 4 or 5 p.m., and he arrived home at nearly 7 p.m.

Rebecca Castellanos was found by Los Angeles police and paramedics at around 5:40 p.m. last Friday, April 11, unresponsive in the bathtub. Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. A neighbor said they heard the child screaming before the police arrived. The fiancé explained that Castellanos often struggled with mental and emotional health issues, leading her to become anxious and isolate herself, but he insisted she had never been violent before.

He believes Castellanos was overwhelmed by her fears of not being able to gain U.S. citizenship and the possibility of deportation. Rebecca's death has drawn attention to ongoing immigration issues in the United States, especially amid the recent political climate.

The medical examiner determined that Rebecca died from asphyxiation due to neck compression and drowning. Castellanos is expected to be charged with murder, and her bail has been set at $2 million.