A Flagstaff woman admitted to police that she killed her toddler, wrapped him in a blanket and stored his body in a freezer for weeks, according to court documents.
Ochra Manakaja, 32, was charged on suspicion of first-degree murder, concealment of a dead body and child abuse in the death of her 15-month-old son, according to court documents.
"I killed him," Manakaja said on a 9:36 a.m. call May 17 to Flagstaff police, according to a probable cause statement. Police arrived at a room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites near Huntington Drive and Bronco Way, which Manakaja had provided as her location. She directed an officer to a tote in the room, whereupon the top of a baby's head was discovered from under a blanket, according to charging documents.
The child's body was "very stiff and cold to the touch and obviously frozen" and was about 26 degrees, court documents said.
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Manakaja said the deceased child was her son, according to court documents. Officers found two "unharmed" and "currently safe" children, ages 7 and 9, who belonged to Manakaja, in the room, Flagstaff police spokesperson Sgt. Jerry Rintala said.
The mother told police she resided at a Flagstaff apartment in the area of Izabel Street and Cedar Drive when she hurt the toddler, likely the morning of April 29, as her other sons slept, according to court documents.
She told police she threw him in his crib "out of frustration" after he was acting "fussy" and touching his stomach as if in pain, charging documents said. The boy landed on his back, and his crying worsened, with him continuing to be "fussy" the rest of the day, according to court documents.
The boy vomited, did not eat and was looking weak and pale for two to three days before he died May 1 after developing a fever that day, the mother told police, according to court documents. She also told police she thought he died from choking on his vomit and found him on a couch laying face up with his eyes closed and not breathing, according to charging documents. The boy would not wake up as Manakaja wet his face with a cold washcloth, the documents stated.
She contemplated calling 911, but did not, the documents added.
"Despite knowing something was seriously wrong, Ochra did not call doctors, family members, or seek any medical help because she was scared and afraid of getting in trouble," the probable cause statement read.
Manakaja left the lifeless body of her son on the couch while she dropped off a urine analysis at a hospital as part of a DUI probation, according to court documents. After she returned home that evening, she wrapped the toddler's body and placed him in the freezer, sealing its door with duct tape to retain the smell, she told police, according to charging documents.
He remained in the freezer for two days, the documents said.
Manakaja told police she had been the sole caretaker for her three sons for the past year, according to court documents. She expressed remorse and told police she was "mad" at herself and "hated" herself for what she did, court documents said.
The Arizona Department of Child Services confirmed that they received one prior report involving the family in December 2024, spokesperson Darren DaRonco said.
"Following an investigation, the Department determined the child was unsafe and obtained court authorization to take custody. However, after we removed the child, the mother’s tribe asserted jurisdiction and assumed custody of the child," DaRonco said.
DaRonco explained that the department and the tribe shared jurisdiction under the Indian Welfare Act to investigate and take custody of the child, but the tribe requested that the matter be transferred to tribal court.
Following the transfer, the department was no longer involved in the child's welfare, and all decisions regarding the child's case, case plan, placement and other decisions were handled by the tribal court and tribal social services, he said.
"Our thoughts are with the child’s loved ones and community during this difficult time," DaRonco said.
Manakaja was being held on a $1 million bond and had a preliminary court hearing set for May 28, according to court records.
A May 18 news release from Ritala listed the toddler's age as two months older than the probable cause report did.
