Mother Allegedly Killed 1-Month-Old Week After She Asked Help Fearing She Might Hurt Children

A New Mexico mother who has been charged with murdering her infant had called cops a week before her son's death, asking for help fearing she might hurt her kids, police said.

Kiria Lynn Milton, 30, called 911 earlier this month saying she was feeling “overwhelmed” by parenthood and did not want to hurt her children. Milton briefly lost custody of her children after the Children, Youth and Families Department stepped in, but they were soon returned to her care. On Monday, the Valencia County deputies received another call from Milton reporting the death of her 1-month-old son, according to KOAT.

When the deputies arrived at Milton's residence in El Cerro Mission they found the unresponsive child in a crib with severe bruising to his facial area. The child was pronounced dead at the scene. The deputies also found Milton's 4-year-old son who was nonverbal and hiding in his bedroom, curled under his bedsheets. The boy was transported to a hospital for evaluation of any injuries.

Milton told police officers that she was alone with her two sons while the children's father was out of the state on a business trip since Saturday. The investigators have scheduled an autopsy to determine the child’s cause of death and Milton has been charged with first-degree murder.

Milton called the emergency officers twice asking for help since the baby was born, Valencia County Sheriff Denise Vigil said. After the woman reported having a breakdown, she was sent for a mental health evaluation and the children were placed in their father's custody, Vigil said.

“She basically said she felt overwhelmed and did not want to hurt her children,” Vigil said, adding: “Deputies performed a mental health check and when they arrived, they did contact CYFD.” However, according to reports, the children were given back to Milton sometime during the last week, Law & Crime reported.

Meanwhile, the sheriff said he did not know how Milton was given back the custody of her children.“We did the things we were supposed to do and CYFD did not keep us informed of their plan with the family. Unfortunately, we’re here today with this result and having to figure out the in-betweens,” Vigil said.